//      no  4  6 

PROCEEDINGS 


OF  THE 

y 

GENERAL  CONVENTION 


THE  BAPTIST   DENOMINATION 

IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

AT    THEIR. 

FIRST  TRIENNIAL  MEETING, 

held  in  philadelphia,  from  the  7™  to 
the  14th  of  may,  1817: 

TOGETHER    WITH 

THE  THIRD  ANNUAL 


The  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign  Missions 


FOR    THE 

UNITED  STATES. 


"  Let  the  whole  earth  be  filled  with  HIS  glory. 
Amen  and  Amen." 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRINTED  BY  ORDER  OF  THE  CONVENTION. 

Anderson  &  Meehan,  Printers. 

1817- 


\v 


ADDRESS. 


2'HE  Baptist  General  Convention  for  Missionary  purposes, 
assembled  at  their  first  triennial  meeting  in  Philadelphia,  to  their 
immediate  constituents,  and  to  the  Associations,  Mission  Societies 
Churches,  and  religious  public  throughout  the  United  States^ 
Present  Christian  Salutations  : 

With  sentiments  of  the  most  ardent  gratitude  to  the  God  of  Mercy, 
the  Convention  has  the  pleasure  of  addressing  you.  We  have  been 
permitted  to  enjoy  an  interview  with  each  other,  and  to  engage  in  the 
important  consultations  which  our  convening  embraced,  in  the  spirit 
of  fraternal  love.  In  the  midst,  and  at  the  close  of  our  deliberations-, 
the  lines  were  sung  as  descriptive  of  the  common  feeling, 

"  Lo  !  what  an  entertaining  sight 
Are  brethren  that  agree ; 
Brethren  whose  cheerful  hearts  unite 
In  bands  of  piety." 

It  is  peculiarly  grateful  when  bodies,  assembled  to  consult  for  the 
promotion  of  a  kingdom  through  which  peace  shall  flow  like  a  river, 
find  the  same  sacred  stream  enriching  and  cheering  themselves.  It 
is  deserving  observation  and  thankfulness,  that  the  lives  of  all  our  bre- 
thren who  assembled  three  years  ago,  have  been  graciously  preserved. 

The  Convention  has  cause  for  rejoicing  in  observing,  that  the 
support  necessary  to  carry  their  objects  into  full  effect,  has  increased 
with  each  succeeding  year.  Funds,  to  an  extent  which  the  most 
sanguine  anticipations  had  scarcely  contemplated,  have  poured  into 
our  treasury :  their  sources  are  not  only  active,  but  multiplying. 
The  reality  of  faith  is  best  demonstrated  by  holy  obedience  ;  and,  on 
the  same  principle,  the  sincerity  of  the  professions  of  the  friends  of 
Missions  becomes  unquestionable,  when,  like  ships  of  Tarshish,  they 
"  bring  their  silver  and  their  gold  with  them  unto  the  name  of  the 
Lord  and  to  the  Holy  One  of  Israel."  The  strictest  frugality,  con- 
sistent with  the  magnitude  of  the  design,  becomes  the  Board  in  ap- 
propriating, and  Missionaries  in  expending,  the  funds  of  the  institu- 
tion ;  yet  while  this  is  sacredly  observed,  the  vast  extent  of  field  which 
cries  aloud  for  evangelic  cultivation,  renders  it,  in  a  manner,  impos- 
sible that  funds  can  be  excessive.  "  Who  then  is  willing' to  conse- 
crate his  service  this  day  unto  the  Lord  ?" 

The  encouragements  to  incessant  and  vigorous  endeavour  are  of 
the  most  animating  description.  A  state  of  prosperity  is  promised 
to  the  church  of  Christ,  which  as  yet  she  has  not  realized.  All  the 
families  of  the  earth  have  not,  as  yet,  been  blessed  in  the  Messiah. 
As  yet,  all  the  kindreds  of  the  nations  have  not  worshipped  before 
him-  Nations  have  not  yet  beaten  their  swords  into  ploughshares, 
and  their  spears  into  pruning  hooks.  The  glory  of  the  Lord  is  not 
yet  revealed  so  as  that  all  fiesh  may  see  it  together.     The  stone 


126 

a  peculiar  claim.  The  question,  however,  it  is  believed,  has  never 
been  attended  with  practical  embarrassment.  HE  who  stirs  up  his 
people  to  offer  cheerfully  of  their  substance,  and  his  messengers  to 
venture  forth  in  his  name,  commonly  points  by  the  finger  of  his  provi- 
dence to  the  field  for  labour,  as  distinctly  as  he  did  in  the  apostolic 
age  by  impressive  visions,  or  the  immediate  voice  of  his  holy  Spirit. 
The  kingdoms  of  Providence  and  grace  are,  by  the  heir  of  all 
things,  controlled  and  harmonized.  It  was  Providence  confest  that 
directed  our  English  brethren  to  Serampore.  It  is  Providence  that 
has  placed  before  us  the  wretched  natives  of  Burmah,  and  inspired 
the  cry — "  Christians  of  America,  come  over  and  help  us!"  The  in- 
teresting history  of  the  settling  of  our  brother  Judson  at  Rangoon 
forbids  a  contrary  conclusion. 

The  same  gracious  direction  which  it  becomes  all  Missionary  So- 
cieties earnestly  to  solicit,  and  conscientiously  to  obey,  is  opening 
other  spheres  on  our  own  continent.  A  respectable  and  well  recom- 
mended missionary,  whom  the  Convention  find  pleasure  in  encourag- 
ing the  Board  to  adopt,  has  offered  his  services  in  New  Orleans  and 
its  vicinity.  In  the  south-western  department  of  our  Union,  the 
fields  for  missionary  attempt  are  wide  and  promising.  Impressions 
made  in  New  Orleans  and  Louisiana  may  make  way  for  the  triumphs 
of  redeeming  grace,  in  the  regions  where  the  policy,  avarice  and  am- 
bition of  Cortez  and  Pizarro,  strewed  the  plains  with  desolation  and 
mortality. 

It  is  a  circumstance  remarkable  and  pleasing,  that  two  young 
brethren  have  had  their  minds  seriously  impressed  with  a  conviction, 
that,  if  Divine  Providence  approved,  it  would  become  their  duty  to 
commence  a  Western  mission.  For  upwards  of  the  last  twelve 
months  they  have  been  engaged  in  preparatory  studies  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  Baptist  Education  Society  in  Philadelphia.  Their  pul- 
pit talents  are  in  a  high  degree  respectable,  and  have  been  welcoined 
among  the  churches  of  Christ  where  they  have  had  opportunities  of 
preaching:  in  his  name.  The  immediate  sphere  of  action  to  which 
their  minds  have  been  directed,  and  which  it  is  believed  they  may, 
with  the  approbation  and  encouragement  of  the  Board,  to  advantage 
occupy,  is  the  vicinity  of  St.  Louis  on  the  wes-tern  banks  of  the  Mis- 
sisippi.  A  spiritual  dearth  there  exists.  A  mission  established  in 
this  part  of  our  continent,  extending  itself  to  the  Indians  in  the  west, 
the  Convention  consider  it  their  duty  to  encourage  and  support. 

It  is  pleasing  to  observe,  that  the  minds  of  the  churches  and  bre- 
thren in  the  western  States  have  been  strongly  incited  to  this  import- 
ant object.  The  Convention  has  cause  to  rejoice  in  the  indications 
of  the  advance  of  'the  work  of  the  Lord  afforded  by  the  numerous  ap- 
plications for  the  missionary  service. 

In  contemplating  the  state  of  our  Union  the  Convention  cannot 
suppress  its  joy  on  observing  the  Associations  generally  interesting 
themselves  in  the  work  of  Missions.  Means  are  usually  proportioned 
to  the  magnitude  of  the  objects  which  infinite  intelligence  designs  to 
accomplish.  The  almost  universal  readiness  discovered  by  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  or  thirty  Associations  to  encourage  the  service,  and 
the  lively  zeal  of  the  almost  equally  numerous  and  increasing  mis- 
sionary societies,  intent  on  the  salvation  of  the  Heathen,  justify  the 


127 

conclusion  that  the  Head  of  the  church  is  preparing  to  effect  some 
glorious  result.  He  who  marshalled  even  the  stars  in  their  courses 
to  fight  against  an  opposing  Sisera,  is  now  marshalling  his  saints, 
that,  through  their  instrumentality,  the  stratagems  and  energies  of 
hell  may  be  defeated,  and  "  the  prince  of  this  world  be  cast  out."  If 
it  be  asked,  why  have  missionary  efforts  been  so  long  deferred  ?  We 
might  answer  by  asking,  why  was  the  Reformation  delayed  so  long  ? 
or,  why  was  not  the  idea  of  Bible  Institutions,  of  Sunday  schools, 
and  of  Tract  societies,  earlier  conceived  and  brought  into  efficiency? 
The  truth  seems  to  lie  in  this  single  consideration.  "  To  every  thing 
there  is  a  season,  and  a  time  to  every  purpose  under  the  sun."  Some- 
times for  reasons  which  infinite  wisdom  approves  and  eternal  recti- 
tude will  vindicate,  the  hand  of  God  is  hidden  in  his  bosom — while,  at 
other  seasons,  it  is  revealed.  We  have  lived  to  see  the  period  when 
"  the  Lord  has  made  bare  his  holy  arm  in  the  eyes  of  all  the  nations  ;" 
when  minor  exhibitions  of  mercy  lose  their  importance  in  a  glory 
that  excelleth.  "  It  is  a  light  thing,"  saith  the  Lord, "  that  thou 
shouldest  be  my  servant,  to  raise  up  the  tribes  of  Jacob  and  to  pre- 
serve the  restored  of  Israel ;  I  will  also  give  thee  for  a  light  to  the 
Gentiles,  that  thou  mayest  be  my  salvation  to  the  ends  of  the  earth." 

The  Convention  has  observed  with  abundant  satisfaction,  the  cheer- 
ful and  liberal  exertions  of  pious  females-  These  have  formed  nu- 
merous societies,  and  in  several  instances  sent  their  delegates,  consist- 
ing for  the  most  part  of  ministering  brethren,  to  the  general  meeting. 
They  sincerely  hope  that  such  as  have  commenced  this  blessed  ser- 
vice will  abound  in  it  more  and  more,  and  that  many  others  will  copy 
their  luminous  example.  Every  enlightened  female  must  know  that 
where  Christianity  exists  not,  the  character  of  woman  is  shamefully 
degraded.  Our  Lord,  when  on  earth,  welcomed  the  ministrations  of 
holy  women,  and  he  welcomes  them  still.  Is  it  prophesied  "the 
daughter  of  Tyre  shall  be  there  with  a  gift  ?"  the  daughters  of  Ame- 
rica have  already  anticipated  her  offering. 

In  perusing  the  recent  accounts  from  our  Missionary  brethren  in 
Asia,  it  is  pleasing  to  observe  that  their  labours  are  very  much  di- 
rected to  the  establishment  of  schools  among  the  heathen,  for  the 
education  of  youth.  This  effort,  the  result  of  wisdom  and  experi- 
ence, promises  extensive  good.  The  attention  of  the  juvenile  mind 
is  easily  arrested.  Prejudices  against  Christian  teachers  are  destroy- 
ed in  the  blossom,  and  it  may  reasonably  be  hoped,  with  the  blessing 
of  God,  that  the  young  offspring  of  idolators,  trained  up  in  the  way  in 
which  they  should  go,  when  ojd  will  not  depart  from  it.  While  the 
Convention  cordially  approves,  and  heartily  rejoices  in  the  lovely  pro- 
ject, they  cannot  forget  that  there  are  thousands  of  our  youth  in  the 
United  States  that  need  similar  instructions.  Sunday  schools  are 
multiplying  in  America — It  is  most  solemnly  wished  that  you  may 
feel  the  importance  of  such  institutions,  and  that  you  endeavour  to 
originate  and  support  them  to  the  utmost  extent  of  your  ability. 

The  loss  of  a  number  of  celebrated  Grecian  youth  is  by  one  of  their 
orators  compared  to  the  loss  of  the  buds  of  spring.  Too  much  atten- 
tion to  the  tuition  of  the  rising  generation  can  scarcely  be  paid.  They 
are  the  buds  from  which  future  fruit  is  to  be  collected.  It  is  hoped 
that  such  as  have  it  in  their  power  will  not  conceive  property  ill- 


128 

employed  when  used  for  this  very  important  end.  Such  as  cannot 
command  funds  for  instruction,  ought  to  be  taken  under  the  zealous 
and  faithful  management  of  Sunday  school  establishments. 

To  the  subject  of  education,  generally,  the  mind  of  the  Convention 
has  been  seriously  directed.  They  stated,  in  part,  their  ideas  rela- 
tive to  this  point  in  their  first  address.  They  wish  to  recall  your 
attention  to  this  most  interesting  topic,  particularly  in  relation  to 
such  pious  young  men,  as  shall  possess  talents  which  promise  use- 
fulness in  the  Word.  They  are  fully  sensible,  that,  in  relation  to 
grace  in  the  heart,  a  sacred  necessity  compelling  to  the  work,  and  the 
valuable  success  that  shall  accompany  pulpit  labour,  the  Lord  alone 
can  make  able  ministers  of  the  New  Testament :  but  when  they 
mark  the  advantages  which  those  servants  of  the  church  enjoy  who 
can  read  the  lively  oracles  in  their  original  languages ;  when  they 
consider  the  improved,  and  rapidly  improving  state  of  society,  in 
which  the  grammar  of  the  English  language  is  generally  taught ; 
when  they  mark  the  zeal  which  other  Christian  societies  are  exer- 
cising on  this  subject,  and  the  advantages  which  it  secures  them  ; 
when  they  consider  how  much,  literary  assistance  is  desired  by 
godly  and  intelligent  young  men,  and  the  facility  with  which  it  may 
be  obtained  by  a  little,  generous,  and  common  exertion,  they  feel 
compelled,  affectionately  and  importunately,  to  solicit  your  bounty 
and  influence.  A  scheme  in  favour  of  education  being  introduced, 
the  Convention  were  unanimous  as  to  the  importance  of  the  sub- 
ject, and  left  it  in  charge  with  the  Board  to  give  it  that  maturity  and 
publicity  which  they  shall  approve.  It  is  hoped  that  something  on 
this  point  will  be  speedily  and  vigorously  attempted.  It  is  certain 
education  may  be  abused,  and  so  may  health  and  food  and  civil  liber- 
ty, and  every  blessing  of  earth  and  heaven  ;  but  it  is  equally  certain 
that  it  may  be  improved  for  purposes  profitable  to  the  church  of  God, 
and  conducive  to  the  best  interests  of  thousands.  The  difficulties 
on  this  subject  felt  by  some  pious  brethren,  are,  like  vapours  of  the 
morning,  vanishing. 

The  agency  employed  within  the  United  States  by  the  Board,  for 
giving  birth  and  stability  to  Mission  Societies,  and  efficient  operation 
to  a  plan  of  systematic  general  intercourse,  is  fully  approved  by  the 
Convention.  They  believe  that  the  continuance  of  such  an  agency 
wili  be  of  signal  use  to  the  cause  of  God. 

When  the  royal  prophet  prayed,  "  O  Lord  send  out  thy  light  and 
thy  truth  !"  he  subjoined  the  request,  let  it "  lead  me  and  guide  me." 
Missionary  endeavours  will  be  of  no  avail  to  our  personal  welfare, 
without  the  spirit  of  individual  religion. — Let  family  worship  be  so- 
lemnly regarded.  Remember,  beloved  friends,  conscientiously  re- 
member, the  Sabbath  day,  to  keep  it  holy.  Encourage  prayer  meet- 
ings, and  especially  the  monthly  prayer  meeting  for  the  spread  of 
the  Gospel.  Walk  worthy  of  God  unto  all  well  pleasing,  and  con- 
tend for  the  faith  once  delivered  unto  the  saints. 

God  of  his  mercy  grant  that  when  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  shall 
appear,  you  and  we  may  be  accepted  of  him,  "  not  having  on  our  own 
righteousness,  which  is  of  the  law,  but  the  righteousness  which  is  of 
God  by  faith." 

Yours  affectionately,  in  the  Gospel, 

RICHARD  FURMAN,  Pres. 
DANIEL  SHARP,  Secr'y. 


the 


129 

PROCEEDINGS 

Of  the  General  Missionary  Convention  of  the  Baptist  de- 
nomination in  the  United  States  of  America,  for  Foreign  Missions, 
assembled  in  Sansom-street  Meeting-house,  Philadelphia,  the  7th 
of  Mai/,    1817  : 

The  meeting  was  opened  with  an  appropriate  hymn  and  solemn  prayer  by 

e  President. 

The  delegates  and  proxies  from  Mission  Societies,  Associations,  and  Churches, 
upon  producing  credentials  duly  certified,  took  their  seats. 

The  Rev.  Richard  Furman,  D.D.  was  elected  President,  and  the  Rev-. 
Daniel  Sharp,  Secretary. 

The  Board  offered  to  the  Convention  the  following 
ADDRESS. 

The  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  have,  for  the  first  time,  the  pleasure 
of  addressing  the  General  Convention.  They  rejoice  in  the  return  of 
another  meeting  of  your  beloved  and  venerable  body,  and  pray  that  the  spirit 
of  wisdom  and  counsel,  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  a  sacred  zeal  for  his  glory, 
may  animate  and  direct  your  consultations  and  endeavours. 

In  the  first  and  second  Annual  Reports,  a  summary  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
Board,  from  the  period  of  their  appointment,  has  been  given.  Any  additional 
information  that  may  be  desired,  you  will  have  an  opportunity  of  collecting 
from  the  whole  of  the  minutes  of  their  body,  which  are  submitted  to  your 
perusal. 

Since  the  publication  of  the  last  Report,  the  services  which,  in  the  course  of 
Providence,  the  Board  has  been  called  to  fulfil,  have  been  comparatively  few. 
They  have,  however,  with  pleasure,  witnessed  the  success  which  has  attended 
measures  formerly  adopted  ;  and  derive  from  the  review  fresh  motives  to  grati- 
tude and  exertion. 

Intelligence  has  been  received  of  the  arrival  of  our  dear  missionary  friends 
in  India.  By  the  brethren  at  Calcutta,  and  at  the  Mission  House  at  Serampore, 
they  were  welcomed  with  the  accustomed  hospitality  of  those  eminent  servants 
•  of  God. 

Mrs.  Charlotte  H.  White,  who  accompanied  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hough,  had  her 
views,  in  common  vith  theirs,  directed  to  Burmah.  Her  expectations,  by  a 
controlling  Providence,  have  been  disappointed.  An  important  missionary 
station  is  established  at  Digah,  near  Patna,  between  3  and  400  miles  above 
Sersmpore.  Mr.  Joshua  Rowe,  of  the  English  Baptist  Mission,  is  there  engaged. 
He  solicited,  and  obtained  a  union  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  \Yhite.  The  step 
appears  to  have  been  approved  by  the  brethren  of  the  Serampore  Mission  House. 
She  has  now  the  care  of  a  large  school,  a  station  for  which  she  is  excellently 
qualified,  where  a  directress  was  greatly  needed,  and  is  introduced  into  a  sphere 
of  respectability,  usefulness,  and  comfort.  The  Board  consider  it  their  duty 
to  state  to  the  Convention,  that  not  a  cent  of  expen?e  has  arisen  to  the  institu- 
tion from  sending  Mrs.  White  (now  Mrs.  Rowe)  to  the  East.  She  supported 
herself  entirely  while  she  continued  in  America,  and  from  her  own  funds  pro- 
cured her  outfit.  Two  hundred  dollars  besides  she  left  in  the  hands  of  the 
Treasurer,  which,  as  she  is  now  connected  with  the  English  mission,  the  Board 
is  of  opinion  ought  to  be  returned  her.  May  she  prove,  in  her  new  situation, 
like  Priscilla,  a  helper  in  the  Lord  Jesus.  Dr.  Carey  says,  "  1  consider  her 
marriage  as  a  very  providential  circumstance.  At  Digah  she  cannot  fail  of 
being  useful."  Dr.  Hinton,  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  English  Baptist  Society, 
ingeniously  observes,  that  "  England  and  America  have  plighted  hands,  at  a 
missionary  altar,  by  their  respective  representatives,  Mr.  Howe  and  Mrs.  White. 
Every  one  augurs  good  from  their  union." 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  brother  Hough  in  India,  he  applied  for  a  passage  on 
board  a  brig  from  Calcutta  for  Rangoon.  He  carried  with  l.im,  as  a  present 
from  the  Serampore  brethren,  a  printing  press,  tvpes,  paper,  and  other  articles . 

Q 


130 

Some  serious  difficulties  occurred  in  his  descending  the  Hoogly  river,  which  are 
detailed  at  large  in  a  communication,  now  presented,  and  constrained  his  return 
to  Calcutta.  The  difficulties  were  such  as  call  for  the  sympathy  of  every  feel- 
ing, and  especially  of  every  parental  bosom.  Some  loss  to  the  mission  has  been 
sustained;  but  it  is  such  as  may  reasonably  be,  sometimes,  expected,  vet  such 
as  it  is  hoped  will  not  frequently  occur.  He  embarked  a  second  time  on  the 
17th  of  September,  1816,  and  has  arrived,  safely,  at  his  destination.  Brother 
Judson  appears  much  pleased  with  him  as  a  missionary  associate.  May  he 
prove  eminently  useful.  At  Rangoon  a  church  has  been  formed.  This,  it  is 
believed,  is  the  first  church  ever  constituted  in  that  empire  on  the  real  basis  of 
the  Gospel;  and  surely  our  denomination  throughout  the  United  States  must 
feel  themselves  sacredly  pledged  for  its  support. 

By  communications  from  the  brethren  at  Rangoon,  it  appears  that  they  are 
increasingly  encouraged  in  their  important  work.  Brother  Judson  and  wife  are 
truly  valuable  persons.  He  has  laboured  under  indisposition  for  some  months 
past,  but  is,  in  a  good  degree,  recovered.  He  has  composed  a  tract  in  the 
Burmar  language,  which  brother  Hough  will  be  able  to  print  immediately.  Of 
this  difficult  language  he  appears  to  be  already  master,  and  is  both  facilitating 
its  acquisition  for  associates  and  successors,  and  progressing  in  the  translation 
of  the  scriptures  of  truth.  May  his  lif:-  be  preserved  for  many  years  to  come. 
More  missionaries  in  Burmah  are  anxiously  desired. 

The  Board  cannot,  they  wish  not  to  conceal  from  you,  that  in  the  discharge 
of  their  internal  duties  they  have  experienced  much  embarrassment  and  ob. 
struction.  Convinced  of  the  integrity  of  their  aims,  and  of  the  propriety  and 
importance  of  the  measures  they  have  pursued  and  accomplished,  they  respect- 
fully  ask  of  the  Convention  an  attentive  investigation  of  their  conduct,  and  an 
avowal  of  the  sentiments  of  your  body  whether  it  deserve  censure  or  support. 

Sugg-estions  which  have  been  offered  relative  to  the  propriety  of  altering,  in 
some  points,  the  Constitution  of  the  Convention,  the  Board  have  taken  into  se- 
rious consideration.  They  apprehend  that  instruments  of  this  description 
ought  to  be  held  as  sacred  as  possible,  so  that  changes  occur  only  when  impe- 
rious necessity,  or  a  conviction  of  solid  advantage  shall  require  them.  They 
have  reason  to  believe  that  bequests  have  been  made  to  the  Convention,  which  a 
variation  of  the  title  might  render  precarious.  But  from  the  experience  of  three 
years,  and  the  best  light  they  have  been  able  to  obtain,  they  are  ;>f  opinion  that 
the  following  alterations  will  be  beneficial,  and  are  expedient,  wz.  That  the 
powers  of  this  Convention  be  extended  so  as  to  embrace  home  missions  and 
plans  for  the  encouragement  of  education  ;  and  that  henceforward  the  quorum 
of  the  Board  for  the  transaction  of  business  be  five. 

A  communication  from  our  Agent,  Mr.  Kice,  relative  to  his  late  tour,  has 
been  laid  before  the  Board,  to  which  we  refer  you.  Until  the  present  time  he 
has  been  employed  in  the  United  States  lor  originating  and  encouraging  mission 
institutions,  and  for  organizing  and  establishing  a  system  of  general  intercourse. 
It  is  obvious  that  many  important  advantages  have  resulted  from  this  measure. 
The  distinct  sense  of  the  Convention,  however,  upon  the  propriety  of  continuing 
such  an  agency,  it  would  be  proper  the  Board  should  possess. 

The  Board  are  deeply  convinced  of  the  propriety  of  immediate  attention  to 
the  state  of  the  Indians  of  our  own  country.  Habits  of  civilization  among 
them  will  necessarily  be  connected  with  the  reception  of  the  Gospel.  They  are 
heathen  which,  from  their  proximity,  have  a  special  claim  upon  your  pious  zeal. 
It  is  believed  that  suitable  persons  can  be  obtained  to  go  among  them.  Large 
fields  also  are  to  be  found,  especially  in  the  western  sections  of  our  country, 
where  the  truths  of  the  Gospel  are  rarely,  if  ever,  proclaimed. 

Several  very  interesting  documents  have  been  received  from  India,  which  the 
Board  have  the  pleasure  of  presenting  you.  They  rejoice  that  the  cause  of  God 
is  evidently  increasing  in  the  earth,  and  trust  the  time  is  not  remote  when  the 
kingdoms  shall  become  the  Lord's. 

The  Board  are  sensible  that  the  means  usually  employed  by  the  Supreme 
Head  of  the  church  for  the  advancement  of  undefiled  religion  is  the  preaching 
of  the  Divine  Word,  and  that  it  is  of  importance  that  the  preacher  be  furnished 
as  extensively  as  possible  for  his  important  work.     They  respectfully  call  your 


131 

attention  to  the  general  subject  of  education,  and  hope  your  wisdom  may  con- 
trive means  for  the  advancement  of  this  important  object. 

The  labours  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  greatly  diversified  and  extended, 
must,  as  the  Board  are  sensible,  necessarily  occupy  a  large  portion  of  his  time, 
and  require  much  care  and  exertion.  The  Board  respectfully  submit,  to  the 
Convention  the  propriety  of  an  expression  of  their  opinion,  as  to  his  receiving  a, 
reasonable  compensation. 

With  sentiments  of  Christian  esteem, 
By  order  of  the  Board, 

HORATIO  G.  JONES,  Rec.  Sec.  pro  tem. 

The  documents  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  Address  were  read,  viz  :  A  com- 
mimical  ion  from  the  Agent  to  the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Board;  a 
fraternal  and  very  excellent  letter  from  the  Rev.  missionaries,  Dr.  Carey,  Dr. 
Marshman,  and  Mr.  Ward,  Serampore  ;  communications  from  our  missionary 
brethren,  Mr.  Judson  and  Mr.  Hough,  viz.  letters  from  Mr.  Hough  while  at 
Calcutta ;  letters  and  communications  from  Mr.  Judson  at  Rangoon  ;  and  a 
joint  communication  from  Messrs.  Judson  and  Hough  after  Mr.  Hough's  arrival 
at  Rangoon. 

Resolved,  That  the  Address  of  the  Board,  and  the  accompanying1  documents 
be  referred  to  a  committee — and  that  the  Rev.  Drs.  Baldwin  and  Staughton,  and 
the  Hon.  Judge  Tallmadge  be  that  committee. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  seven  be  appointed,  conformably  to  a  request 
of  the  Board  for  "an  attentive  investigation  of  their  conduct,"  to  consider 
said  conduct,  and  to  report  accoidingly — and  that  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Jesse 
Mercer,  Georgia ;  Daniel  Sharp,  Boston ;  John  Peck,  New-York ;  George 
Roberts,  North-Carolina ;  Archibald  Maclay,  New  York  city ;  William  Warder, 
Kentucky;  and  Edward  Baptist,  Virginia,  be  that  committee. 

The  corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Boara  communicated  to  the  Convention, 
that  information  had  been  received  by  himself  and  the  Agent  from  a  very  large 
proportion  of  the  numerous  Associations  in  the  United  States  ;  that  Secretaries  to 
hold  correspondence  with  the  Secretary  of  the  Board  are  generally  appointed  ; 
and  that  the  whole  Baptist  denomination  throughout  our  country  appear  to  have 
caught  the  holy  flame,  and  are  entering  wixh  increasing  zeal  upon  the  work  of 
extending  the  knowledge  oi'the  Lord  from  the  river  to  the  ends  of  the  earth. 

Communications  from  auxiliary  Mission  Societies  are  equally  animating. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  be  presented  to 
the  Associations,  Societies,  and  Churches  that  have  contributed  to  the  funds  of 
the  Institution,  with  a  view  of  aiding  in  the  diffusion  of  the  knowledge  of  the 
Lord  Jesus.  The  corresponding  Secretary  is  requested  to  communicate  to 
them  this  resolve,  accompanied  with  the  hope  and  persuasion  that  they  will 
continue  to  abound  in  the  service. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  .thanks  of  this  Convention  be  presented  to 
all  those  individuals  who  have  aided  the  missionary  object — and  that  this  reso- 
lution be  published  with  their  proceedings,  as  it  Mill  be  impracticable  for  the 
Secretary  to  communicate  it  to  them  separately. 

The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  Address  of  the  Hoard,  with  the 
accompanying  documents  reported.  The  report  of  the  committee  after  under- 
going, in  committee  of  the  whole,  ample  consideration,  with  several  alterations, 
was  unanimously  adopted  as  follows  : 

AMENDMENTS  TO   THE  CONSTITUTION. 

1.  That  the  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  for  the  United  States,  have 
full  power  at  their  discretion  to  appropriate  a  portion  of  the  funds  to  domestic 
missionary  purposes,  in  such  parts  of  this  country  where  the  seed  of  the  Word 
may  be  advantageously  cast,  and  which  mission  societies  on  a  small  scale  do  not 
effectively  reach. 

2.  When  competent  and  distinct  funds  shall  have  been  raised  for  that  purpose, 
from  these  without  resorting  at  all  to  mission  funds,  the  Board  shall  proceed  to 
institute  a  Classical  and  Theological  Seminary,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  pious 


133 

young-  men  w1k>,  in  the  judgment  of  the  churches  of  which  they  are  members, 
and  of  the  Board,  possess  gifts  and  graces  suitable  to  the  gospel  ministry. 

3.  That  the  Board  of  Commissioners  to  be  appointed  by  the  3d  art.  of  the 
Constitution  shall  consist  of  thirty-one  members,  that  the  said  Board  shall  hold 
an  annual  meeting,  the  quorum  at  which  shall  consist  of  eleven,  but  at  all  other 
meetings  of  the  Board  five  shall  be  the  quorum — the  Board  shall  choose  accord. 
Tng  to  the  6th  article  of  the  Constitution,  four  Vice  Presidents,  who  shall  take 
precedence  of  each  other  in  the  order  of  their  election. 

4.  That  the  Board  shall  have  power  to  make  such  compensation  to  the 
Corresponding  Secretary,  as  shall  in  their  judgment  be  adequate  to  his  diversifi- 
ed services ;  and  for  this  purpose  the  Board  shall  have  power  also  to  accept  of  any 
funds  contributed  with  the  special  design  of  forming  a  distinct  fund,  the  interest 
only  of  which  shall  be  applicable  to  the  support  of  the  said  Secretary. 

Resolutions  refwrted  by  the  sa?ne  Committee. 

1.  Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  several  documents  presented  by  the 
Board  are  highly  interesting,  and  that  it  be  recommended  to  the  Board  to  publish 
in  their  report  such  parts  of  them  as  they  may  deem  important. 

2.  Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  Convention  acknowledge  the  judicious 
and  affectionate  letter  from  the  Serampore  brethren,  Dr.  Carey,  Dr.  Marshman, 
and  Mr.  Ward,  and  recommend  to  the  Board  that  an  appropriate  answer  be 
returned,  expressive  of  the  sense  this  Convention  entertains  of  their  fraternal 
attentions  to  our  missionaries,  of  lively  gratitude  for  the  printing  press  and  other 
articles,  and  reciprocating  their  wishes  for  the  extension  of  the  Redeemer's 
Empire. 

3.  Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  Convention  has  derived  high  satisfaction 
from  the  communications  of  brethren  Judson  and  Hough — they  are  pleased  with 
the  information  they  impart,  the  missionary  ardour  they  breathe,  and  the 
prospects  of  ultimate  success  which  in  their  opinion  are  opening.  They  approve 
the  form  of  agreement  which  they  have  adopted,  and  trust  the  Loud  of  the 
harvest  will  make  them  faithful  unto  de^th.  The  Board  is  requested  to  return 
appropriate  answers,  i 

4.  Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  signal  successes  that  have,  under  the 
blessing  of  heaven,  attended  the  indefatigable  labours  of  the  Rev.  Luther  Rice, 
agent  of  the  Board,  to  originate  and  foster  missionary  institutions,  and  effectuate 
arrangements  for  the  complete  operation  of  a  systematic  general  intercourse, 
demonstrate  the  wisdom  of  the  measure,  and  suggest  the  expediency  of  main- 
taining such  an  agency  for  a  period  to  come. 

5.  Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  Convention  entertain  a  high  sense  of  the 
truly  Christian  benevolence  of  Edward  Thompson,  Esq.  in  furnishing  at  his  own 
expense  a  passage  for  our  missionaries,  and  supplying  them  with  provisions  and 
other  conveniences  on  the  passage  to   India  ;   as  also  for  other  facilities  he  has 

-rendered  the  institution,  and  for  his  liberal  offer  of  affording  his  kind  aid  in  case 
of  sending  out  other  missionaries  ;  they  also  concur  with  the  Board  in  tender- 
ing their  sincere  respect  and  affectionate  gratitude. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  President  of  the  Convention,  the  Rev.  Drs. 
Baldwin  and  Staughton,  the  Hon.  Judge  Tallmadge,  and  Mr.  John  Cauldwell, 
be  requested  to  wait  on  Edward  Thompson,  Esq.  with  the  above  resolution. 

Resolved,  That  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mercer,  Dr.  Baldwin  and  Judge  Tallmadge,  be  a 
committee  to  incorporate  the  foregoing  amendments  with  the  original  Constitu- 
tion ;  and  that  the  Constitution,  as  amended,  be  published  in  the  Annual  Report. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  Convention  unite  their  sympathies  v.th  their 
brethren  in  Great  Britain  and  Asia,  and  share  the  regret  of  the  Christian  world 
at  large  on  the  decease  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Fuller,  late  Secretary  of  the  English 
Baptist  Mission.  His  amiable  character,  his  exalted  virtues,  and  his  successful 
labours  in  the  missionary  cause,  will  be  long  and  affectionately  remembered. 
May  He  who  has  ascended  on  high,  and  has  received  gifts  for  men,  abundantly 
supply  the  deficiency  which  the  removal  of  this  excellent  servant  of  God  lias 
occasioned. 

•    The  committee  appointed  to  investigate  the  conduct  of  the  Board  made  the 
following  Report .- 


133 

The  committee  to  whom  wss  referred  that  part  of  the  Address,  in  which  the  " 
.Board  "  respectfully  ask  of  the  Convention  an  attentive  investigation  of  their 
conduct,  and  an  avowal  of  the  sentiments  of  your  body,  whether  it  deserve  ceij- 
sure  or  support,"  beg  leave  to  report,  that  after  a  satisfactory  investigation  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  Board,  they  are  unanimously  of  opinion,  that  the  Board 
deserve  the  explicit  approbation  and  thanks  of  this  Convention  for  their  zealous 
and  unremitting  labours. 

Your  committee  are  sensible  of  the  embarrassments  which  have  impeded  the 
operations  of  the  Board,  and  cannot  but  view,  with  regret  and  disapprobation, 
the  measures  which  have  been  taken  by  certain  individuals  to  impair  the  public 
confidence,  and  to  repress  the  missionary  spirit  which  has  been  so  happily  and 
extensively  excited.  JESSE  MERCER,  Chairman. 

DANIEL  SHARP,  Secretary. 
This  report  was  unanimously  adopted. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  Convention  entertain  a  high  and  thankful 
sense  of  the  satisfactory  and  able  manner  in  which  the  Corresponding  Secretary 
and  Treasurer  of  the  Board  have  discharged  their  respective  duties. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Convention  be  presented  to. 
the  Rev.  Luther  Rice,  for  the  zealous,  faithful,  and  eminent  services  rendered 
by  him  as  Agent  of  the  Board. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Convention  be  presented  to 
Mrs.  Hephzibah  Townsend,  for  the  donation  of  §100  by  the  hand  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Furman,  and  that  Dr.  Furman  communicate  to  her  this  resolution. 

The  President  having,  with  the  approbation  of  the  Convention,  called  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Baldwin  to  the  chair,  placed  before  the  body,  in  a  speech  of  considerable 
length,  and  great  interest,  the  very  serious  and  religious  importance  of  a  well 
informed  ministry  ;  upon  which  the  Convention 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  communication  made  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Furman, 
relative  to  the  education  of  pious  young  men,  who  appear  to  be  called  of  God  to 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  with  other  subjects  connected  with  this  object,  be 
referred  and  specially  recommended  to  the  attention  of  the  Board. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Convention  be  presented  to 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Baldwin,  for  his  appropriate  and  excellent  discourse  delivered 
before  the  Convention  by  appointment,  and  that  a  copy  be  requested  for  the 
press. 

[This  Sermon  was  delivered  on  Wednesday  evening,  the  7t*i  instant. 
On  the  evening  of  the  next  day  a  solemn  prayer  meeting  was  held.  Prayer 
meetings  were  also  observed  every  morning  at  6  o'clock  during  the  session.] 

The  Convention  having  seen,  with  pleasure,  the  proposals  of  the  editors  of 
the  American  Baptist  Magazine  and  Missionary  Intelligencer,  being  a  new  series 
of  a  work  which  has  contributed  in  no  inconsiderable  degree  in  exciting  the 
present  missionary  spirit,  particularly  in  the  northern  parts  of  our  country,  and 
being  deeply  impressed  with  the  importance  of  diffusing,  as  widely  as  possible, 
religious  and  missionary  information, 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  this  work  be  recommended  to  our  constituents 
as  deserving  of  their  patronage,  and  the  patronage  of  the  public  at  large. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  Convention  view  with  peculiar  pleasure,  the 
existence  and  operations,  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  and  that  they  will  lie 
happy,  so  far  as  the  nature  of  their  institution  admits,  to  co-operate  with  them 
in  the  great  object  of  circulating  the  Word  of  God  in  this  or  any  other  countrv  ; 
and  that  the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Board  be  requested  to  communi- 
cate to  the  said  Bible  Society  this  resolution. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  President  of  the  Convention  be  requested 
to  address  a  letter  to  the  President  of  the  British  and  Foreig-n  Bible  Society, 
expressive  of  the  high  sense  which  this  Convention  entertain  of  the  important 
and  extensive  blessings  which  have  resulted  from  their  unwearied  labours  01" 
love,  in  printing  and  distributing  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  our  fellow  beings  of 
different  nations  and  languages;  and  particularly  for  the  kind  aid  afforded  to 
our  brethren  at  Serampore,  engaged  in  translating  and  printing  the  Scriptures 
in  the  languages  of  the  East. 
Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  Convention  earnestly  recommend  to  £he 


134< 

churches  throughout  our  country,  to  unite  in  the  general  concert 
prayer  meeting,  on  the  first  Monday  of  every  month,  for  the  purpose  of 
imploring  the  blessing  of  Almighty  God  on  missionary  efforts. 

Letters  from  two  young  brethren,  James  Coiman  and  Edward  W.  Wheelock, 
expressing  their  ardent  desire  to  go  out  as  missionaries  to  Bnrmah,  were  read, 
together  with  honourable  testimonials  from  their  tutor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chaplin. 
Their  case  was  referred  to  the  Board. 

Also,  letters  from  the  Rev.  VVm.  B.Johnson,  and  the  Rev.  James  A.  Ranaldson, 
relative  to  New  Orleans  and  its  neighbourhood  ;  from  the  Rev  Humphrey  Posey 
and  others,  relative  to  the  Cherokee  Indians ;  from  the  Rev.  John  Young,  relative 
to  Indians  in  the  vicinity  of  Michilimackinac ;  and  from  the  Rev.  Isaac  M'Coy, 
relative  to  the  Missouri  Territory,  &.c.  were  referred  to  the  Board 

A  letter  from  the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Richmond  African  Baptist 
Missionary  Society  was  read. 

Resolved,  unanimously.  That  the  said  letter  be  noticed  on  the  minutes  of  the 
Convention,  and  that  the  Board,  if  they  find  it  practicable,  be  advised  to  insti- 
tute an  African  Mission,  conformably  to  the  wishes  of  the  said  African  Mission 
Society  ;  and  that  the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Board  be  requested  to 
communicate  this  resolution,  together  with  an  encouraging  affectionate  letter 
to  that  society. 

A  letter  from  Mr.  W.  W.  Woodward,  addressed  to  the  President,  was  read 
as  follows : 

"  Permit  me,  for  the  information  of  the  members  from  various  parts  of 
America  to  inform  you,  that  I  am  progressing  with  the  extensive  Commentary 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gill  on  the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  The  whole  of  the  New 
Testament  has  been  some  time  since  published  in  three  volumes,  and  the  first 
volume  of  the  Old  Testament  has  been  ready  for  some  time  past.  Volume  2d 
of  the  Old  Testament  is  printed  as  far  as  600  pages,  and  is  expected  to  be  com- 
pleted in  June  or  July.  The  other  volumes  will,  with  Divine  permission,  pro- 
gress until  the  whole  is  completed.  My  expenses  are  very  heavy,  and  call  for 
the  smiles  and  approbation  of  the  friends  of  this,  valuable  author.  Tf  I  can  be 
favoured  with  the  good  wishes  of  your  honourable  body  for  my  success,  1  shall 
feel  myself  under  lasting  obligations.  May  the  Lord  crown  your  exertions  to 
promote  his  glory  and  the  welfare  of  souls,  with  his  divine  benediction. 
"  Your  affectionate  friend  and  servant, 
•  "  W.  W.  WOODWARD." 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  this  Convention  appreciate  highly  the  works  of 
Dr.  Gill,  and  consider  the  specimens  already  produced  by  Mr.  Woodward,  of 
the  faithfulness  and  excellency  of  the  execution  of  the  work,  and  the  heavy  ex- 
pertise incurred  in  the  publication,  as  deserving  peculiar  regard.  They  earnestly 
renew  their  recommendation  that  the  Exposition  be  generally  patronized  by 
the  churches  and  friends  of  religion  throughout  the  Union. 

Upon  a  request  of  the  President  that  the  sense  of  the  body  relative  to  the 
permanent  charaeter  of  the  Convention  should  be  expressed, 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  it  be  entered  on  the  records,  as  the  deliberate 
sense  of  this  body,  that  the  delegates  and  proxies,  or  their  substitutes,  appointed 
by  the  Mission  Societies,  Associations,  and  Churches,  united  in  the  General 
Missionary  Convention,  do  continue  as  constituting  the  said  Convention  till  the 
time  of  the  next  triennial  meeting. 

The  subsequently  named  persons  were  elected  as  the  Board  of  Missions  for 
three  years,  viz. 

Rev.  Thomas  Baldwin,  B.D.  Mass.         Rev.  Barnabas  Bates,  A.M  R.  I. 

Lucius  Bolles,  A.M.  Mass.  George  Roberts,  North  Carolina. 

— —  William  Staughton,  DD.  Penn.      William  Warder,  Kentucky. 

■■  ■      Horatio  Q.  Jones,  A.M.  Penn.         Elisha  Cushman,  Connecticut. 

Daniel  Sharp,  A.M.  Mass.  John  Peck,  New-York. 

John  Williams,  New-York.  Spencer  H  Cone,  Dist.  Columbia. 

— —  Bur  gin  Allison,  D  D.  N.  Jersey.      —  Thomas  Roberts,  Pennsylvania. 
Thomas  Shields,  Esq.  Penn.  -     ■    J^eivis  Leonard,  New-Yoik. 

Rev  John  Healey,  Maryland.  John  Caithhuell,  J$sq.  New- York 


135 

Robert  Ji.  Semple,  A.M.  Va.  Rev.  James  M'Laiig-hlin,  New-Jersey, 

Ed-ward  Baptist,  A.M.  Va.  John  M.  Roberts,  D.B.  S.  C. 

Richard  Furman,  D.D.  S.  C.  Jeremiah  Vardeman,  Kentucky. 

Hon.  Matthias  B.  Tallmadge,  Esq.  N.Y.  Stephen  Gano,  Rhode  Island. 

Rev.  Jesse  Mercer,  Georgia.  Mr.  George  F.  Curiuen,  Perm. 

Archibald  Maclay,  New-York.  Joh?i  Bradley,  Pennsylvania. 

John  P.  Peckuorth,  Venn. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  his  Excellency  Gabriel  Slaughter,  Esq.  of  Ken- 
tucky ;  Robert  C.  Foster,  Esq.  of  Tennessee  ;  his  Excellency  William  ltabun, 
Esq.  and  Charles  I.  Jenkins,  Esq.  of  Georgia;  Gen.  Abner  Forbes,  of  Vermont  ; 
Hon.  Mark  Harris,  of  Maine,  and  Cornelius  Paulding,  Esq.  of  Louisiana,  be 
elected  honorary  members  of  this  Convention,  and  that  the  Corresponding  Se- 
cretary of  the  Board  be  requested  to  communicate  to  them  respectively  this 
resolution. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  prepare  and  publish,  together 
with  such  minutes  and  papers  as  shall  exhibit  the  proceeding's  of  the  Conven- 
tion, an  Address  to  their  constituents  and  the  public,  on  the  gener.d  interests 
of  the  body;  and  that  the  Rev.  Drs.  Staughton,  Baldwin,  and  Furman,  and  the 
Rev.  Messrs.  II  G.  Jones,  and  Luther  Rice,  be  that  committee. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  be  requested  to  pay  to  the  sexton  of  Sansom- 
street  church,  for  his  attendance  on  the  Convention  during  its  session,  one  dollar 
per  day. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  Convention  entertain  a  grateful  sense  of 
the  hospitable  and  kind  manner  in  which  the  delegates  have  been  received  by 
their  brethren  and  friends  in  this  city. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  that  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  be  presented  to 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Furman,  for  the  able  and  impartial  manner  in  which  he  has  fulfilled 
the  duties  of  the  chair. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Convention  be  presented  to 
the  Rev.  Daniel  Sharp,  for  the  very  satisfactory  manner  in  which  he  has  fulfilled 
the  duties  of  Secretary  of  the  body  during  the  present  session. 

Resolved,  That  the  next  triennial  meeting  of  this  Convention  be  held  in 
Philadelphia,  to  commence  on  the  last  Wednesday  in  April,  1820. 

Concluding  prayer,  ana  an  affectionate  address,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Baldwin. 
Adjourned. 

RICHARD  FURMAN,  President. 
DANIEL  SHARP,  Secretary. 


The  following  table  exhibits  the  Societies,  Associations,  and  Churches,  geographi- 
cally arranged,  together  with  their  delegates  and  proxies,  that  were  represented 
in  the  Convention,  and  which  constitute  the  Convention,  till  the  time  of  its  uext 
triennial  meeting. 

Massuchu-    Tlie  Salem  Bib.  Transla.  and  For.  Miss.  Soc.     Rev.  Lucius  Bolles,  A.  M.* 
setts.  The  Boston  Baptist  Society  for  propagating  ?  Rev.  Tbos-  Baldwin,  D.  D. 

the  gospel  in  India  and  other  Foreign  Parts.  3  Rev.  Daniel  Sharp,  A.  M. 
Vermont.      The  Union  Society  Vt.  and  N.  H.  Auxil.  &c.      Rev.  Daniel  Sharp,  A.  M.  proxy. 

The  Vt.  Soe.  aux.  to  Bap.  Board  of  F.  Missions.      Rev.  Thomas  Baldwin.  D.  D.  proxy 
Rhode-       The  Evaug.Soc.  of  Bristol  and  Newport  coun-  ?  Rev.  Barnabas  Bates,  A.  M. 
Island.  ties  auxiliary  to  Bap.  Board  of  F.  Missions.  3  Allen  Monro,  Esn,.* 

C  muvecticut.  The  Connecticut  Society,  auxiliary  to   the?  Rev.  Elisha  Cuslunan.* 
Baptist  Board  of  Foreign  Missions.  3  Rev.  William  Bentley. 

ffav  York.    The  New  York  Baptist  Society  for  the   sup-  ?  Rev.  John  Williams.  " 
port  of  Foreign  Missions.  3  Kev.  Archibald  Maclay. 

The  New  York  Baptist  Female   Society  for?  Dea.  John  Catllduell. 

pi  omoting  Foreign  Missions.  j  Dea.  Will  am  Colgate. 

The  New  York  Baptist  Foreign  and  Domes-?   Rev.  William  Parkinson,  A.  M.* 

tic  Mission  Society.  3  Hon.  Matthias  B.  T:jlliuadge,Esq. 

The  New  York  Middle  District  Society  aux-  ?  Rev.  Lewis  Leonard. 

iliary  to  the  Baptist  Board  of  F.  Missions.  3  Rev.  Aaron  Perkins. 

The   New  York  Northern  District  Society?  Rev.  Elijah  Merrick. 

auxiliary  to  the  Bap.  Board  of  F.  Missions.  3  Rev.  John  M.  Peck. 

The  Madison  Soc.  aux.  to  Bap.  B.  of  F.  Miss.     Rev.  John  Peck. 


13ft 


'  New 

Jersey, 


Pennsylva- 
nia. 


The   Burlington  Female  Mite  Society     for  ?  Rev.  Burgis  Allison,  D.  D. 

Missionary  Purposes.  3  Rev.  James  E.  Welch. 

The  Baptist    Missionary  Society    of  New- ?  Rev.  Henry  Smalley,A.  M, 

Jersey.  5  ~ 

The  East  Jersey  Baptist  Society  for  Foreign  ? 

anJ  Domestic  Missions.  3 

The  Philadelphia  Baptist  Society  tor  For-? 


eign  Missions. 
The   Sansom-street  Baptist  Female  Society  £ 
for  promoting  For.  Evangelical  Missions.    5 


Rev.  Joseph  Maylin. 

Rev.  James  M'Laughlin. 

Rev.  Daviil  Jones. 

Rev.  William  Staughton,  D.  D. 

Dea.  Thomas  Shields. 

Rev.  John  P.  Peckworth. 

Rev.  Jacoh  Grigg. 


Maryland. 
District  of 
Columbia. 
Virginia. 


The  Junior  Mission  Society  of  the  2nd  Bap-  X  Mr.  Henry  Charles. 

tist  Church  in  Philadelphia.  3  Mr.  Joseph  Taylor. 

The  American  Baptist  Society  for  propaga-  \  Rev.  Horatio  G.  Jones,  A.M. 

ting  the  Gospel.  J  Theophilus  Harris,  Esq. 

The  Great  Valley  Baptist  Female  Society.         Rev.  Thomas  Roberts. 
The  Baltimore  Baptist  M  ssionary  Society.         Rev.  John  Healey. 
The  Washington  Baptist  Society  lor  Foreign  ?  Rev.  Ohadiah  B.  Brown.* 

Missions.  5  Rev.  Spencer  H.  Cone.* 

The  Richmond  Baptist  Foreign  and  Domes-  ?  Rev.  Rohert  B.  Semple,  A.  M. 

3  Rev.  Edward  Baptist,  A.  M. 


North 
Carolina- 
South 
Carolina. 


Georgia, 


tic  Mission  Society. 
The  Richmond  Female  Society 

reign  and  Domestic  Missions.  3  Rev.  James  Fif 

The  Fredericksburg  Fem.  Bap.  Soc.for  F.  M.     Rev.  Addison  M.  Lewis. 
The   North   Carolina    Baptist   Society     for  i  Rev.  George  Roberts. 

Foreign  Missions.  3  Rev.  Abner  W.CIopton,  A.  M.* 

The  General  Committee  of  Churches  united  ?  Rev.  Richard  Fiirman,  D.  D. 

in  ilie  Charleston  Baptist  Association.  3  Hon.  Matthias  B.  1  allmadge,  Esq 

The  auxiliary  Baptist  Society  for  Foreign  ?  Rev.  Richard  Furman,  D.  D, 

Missions  of  Charleston  and  vicinity.  3 

The  Beaufort  Bap.  Soe.  tor  enco,  F.  Missions. 
The  Poweltou  Bap.  Society  for  F.  Missions. 
The  Oemulgee  Missionary  Society. 
The  Sarepta  Baptist  Society  for  Missions. 
The  Mission  Board  of  the  Georgia  Associa-  ? 

tion.  3 

The  Great  Ogechee  Church. 
Kenti-tky.   The   Kentucky  Baptist  Society  for  propa-? 

gating  the  gospel.  __    $ 

The  Green  River  Missionary  Society  auxilia-  ^  Rev.  Isaac  Hodgen. 

ry  to  the  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign  Missions.  3  gev,  William  Warder. 
The  Bardstown  Soe.  aux.  to  Rap.  Board,  &c       iKev.  William  Warder,  proxy. 
The  Washington  Kentucky  Missions  Society.      Rev.  William  Warder. 
The  Mt.  Sterling  Soe.  aux.  to  Bap.  Board,  &e.     Rev.  Luther  Rice.  A.  M.  proxy. 
Louisiana.   The  Louisiana  Society    for  Baptist  Missiuns  ?  pev.  William  B.  lohnson,  A.M. 

Foreign  and  Domestic.  3  Rev.  James  A.  Raiialdson.* 


to  aid  Fo-l  Rev.  Luther  Rice,  A.M. 


I  Ion.  Matthias  B.  Tallnvadge,  Esq. 

Rev.  Thomas  Stuart,  A.  M.* 

Rev.  Jesse  Mercer. 

Rev.  Jesse  Mercer,  proxy. 

Rev.  John  Lumpkin.* 

Rev.  Jesse  Mercer. 

Rev.  Thomas  Rhodes.* 

Rev.  Luther  Rice,  A.  M.  proxy. 

Rev.  Jacob  Creath.* 

Rev.  Silas  M.  Noil.* 


*  Not  present. 


To  the  foregoing  Societies  may  be  added  the  following  list,  ranged  in  the  same 
geographical  order,  most  or  all  of  which  have,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  aided 
the  Foreign  Missionary  efforts,  but  some  of  them  more  particularly  the  Domestic, 
an  i  several  of  them  have  supplied  funds  enough  to  entitle  them  to  representation 
in  tae  Convention. 

The  Maine  Bap.aux.  Soe.  to  aid  F. Missions.  The  Cumberland  Bap.  F.  Mission  Soe. 

The  Lin.  Bap.  Fem.  Ct.  Soe.  to  aid  F.  Mis.     lihe  Hallowell  Fem.  Religious  Society. 

The  Bath  Female  Mite  Society.  The  Fem.  Mission  Society  ot  Portland. 

The  Fem.  Donary  Societv  of  N.  Yarmouth.      The  Fem.  Ben.  Society  of  Livermore. 

The  Female  Donary  Society  in  Buekfield.     The  Female  Society  in  Hebron. 


Maine. 
Female 
Societies. 


New  Hamp 
shire 

t&nale 
Societies. 


Female 
Societies. 


Massachu- 
setts. 


The  Dublin  Society  auxiliary  to  the  Baptist  Board  of  Foreiga  Missions. 

Xh, Missionary  Society  in  Hebron.  The Missionary  Society  in  Lime. 

The  Female  Cent  Society  in  Hebron.  The  Female  Cent  Society  in  Rumney. 

The  Female  Mite  Society  in  Westmoreland.    The  Female  Cent  Society  in  Sulln  am 
The  Female  Baptist  Society  in  Sutton.  The  Female  Society  in  Weare. 

The  Female  Mi  e  Society  in  New  Boston.        The  Fem.  Society  in  Nottingham  West. 
The  Newpt.  Fem,  Rap.  Soe.  for  F.  and  D.  Ms.  The  N.  Lon.  Fem.  Bap.  Soc.for  t . Mis. 
The  Society  of  Shaftsbury  and  vicinity  auxiliary  to  the  Bap.  Board  of  F.  Missions. 
The  Female  Cent  Society  in  Hartland.  The  Fem.  Bap.  Mite  Soe.  in  Cavendish. 

The  Bra.  Fem.  Mite  Soe.  tor  the  aid  of  Mis.      The  Win.  B.  F.  M.  S.  for  the  aid  of  F.  M. 
The  Female  Cent  Society  in  Bridport.  The  Fem.  Cent  Society  in  ^ho/ehain- 

The  Fc.Soc.in  Ira.  aux.  to  the  Bap.  B.  of  F.M.  The  Fe.  Me.  S.aux.totheB.B.ofF.  M, 
The  Female  Society  in  Waterford.  The  Shaftsbury  Female  Mite  Society. 

The  IndiaanAF.  M.  Soe.  of  Hav.  and  vicinity.  The  Country  Bap.  Missionary  Society. 
The  United  Sot,  of  Plymouth  county  &  viciimy  aux.  to  Baptist  Board  ot  F.  Missions. 
The  Society  for  Worcester  county  and  vicinity  aux.  to  Bap.  Board  of  F.  Missions. 
The  Bap.  Missionary  Soe.  for  Norfolk  county  and  win.  for  promoting  F.  and  U.  M. 


137 


Female 
Societies. 


Rhode  Island. 
female 

Soi  u-t  its. 

Connecticut. 

Female 

Societies. 


Setv  York. 


Female 
Societies. 


Nero-Jersey. 

Female  Sue. 

Pennsylvan. 
Female  Soc. 
Delaware- 
Virginia. 

North  Car. 
Female  Soc. 
South  Caro. 


Female  Soc. 

Georgia^ 

Female 

Societies. 

Tennessee. 


Kentucky. 
Ohio. 


The  Boston  Fem.  Soc.  for  Missionary  purposes.  The  Salem  Bap.  Fern.  Cent  Society. 

'I  he  Haverhn'  B-  Fe.  Ct.  S.  to  aid  M.  Endrs.     The  Fem.  B(  n.  Soc.  of  Newton  &  vie. 
The  Bevtiiy  Buptisi  female  Mite  Society.         The  Ttmpitton  Fema;t  Cent  Society. 

The  Female  Mite  Solely  in  Sandisfieid.  The  MednYkl  Mite  Society. 

Thi   Female  Miti  S(,utty  in  Methuen.  The  Pi)  mouth  Fem.  Fraying  Society. 

The  Shrewsbury  ai  ■'  Buy;sion  Fem.  Mite  Soc.  The  Wesjborough  Female  Society. 

The  Fem.  Ct.  Soc.  in  Chelmsford  to  aid  F.  Mis.    'lhe  Mi. ford  Female  Mile  Society. 

Tlie  Ipswich  Bap.  Fein.  Soc.  for  prom.  F.  M.    The  Franiingham  Female  Me.  Society. 

I  he  Loiden  Female  Mite  Society.  The  Female  Mite  Society,  of  Pittsfield. 

The  Ft  male  Mite  Society  of  Barnstable.  The  Fun.  Mite  Soc.  in  Attieborough. 

'Ti'e  Femaie  Mite  Society  in  Nov  Bedford.        The  Fun.  Mite  Soc.in  Midd.tboiough. 

I  he  Femaie  Mite  Society  in  Grafton.  The  Female  Society  in  Randolph. 

The  Baptist  Missionary  Society  in  Rhode  Island. 

The  Mite  Society  in  Providence.  The  Fun.  Mite  Society  in  Pawtucket. 

lhe  Fema'e  Mite  Society  in  Warren.  The  Bristol  Femaie  Mite  Society,  &c. 

The  Fem.  Me.  Soc.  of  V'indiiam  and  Hampton.  The  '"emaie  Mite  Society  at  Lebanon. 

The  Fem.  Me.  Soc  in  Straifie  d  &  vicinity.        The  Fem.  Bib.e  Soc.  in  Colebrook. 

The  Fema,t  Benev   Society  :n  Woodstock.        The  Fenia  e  Cent  Soc.  in  Woodstock. 

The  Femaie  Praying  Society  in  M.ddctnvin.     The  Litchrie'd  F.  M   S.  for  Mis.  purp. 

The  Tolland  Female  Cent  Sochty  for  the  Spread  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 
The  Utica  Bap.  Soc  to  fid  Tor.  Missions.  The  B  S.  in  Troy  for  pr.  G.  in  In-  &c. 

The  Otsego  Baptist  Missionary  Society.  The  Orange  CO.  So.  aux.  to  B.  B.  &C. 

The  Henderson  and  Ellisbtirg  Society,  &c.  The  Youthfu  Society  in  Henderson. 
The  Franklin  Association  Mission  Society.  The  Ontario  So-  au\.  toB  Borud  &c. 
The  Cayuga  So.  aux.  o  Bap.  Board  of  F.  Mis.  The  Amenia  Contrib.  Soc.  of  Y.  Peo. 
The  Society  of  the  Cennties  of  Saratoga,  Washington,  Warren  &  Montgomery,  &c. 

The  N.  Y.  Bap.  Fem.  Soc  for  pro.  For.  Miss.  The  Fem  Cent  of  1st-  B.  Ch.  N.  Y.  &c. 
The  Catski-1  Female  Mite  Society.  The  Fem.  Ante  Soe.  of  Whitestown. 

The  I'roy  Bap  Female  Missionary  Society.  The  Henderson  United  Fem.  Soc.&e. 
The  Denmark  Female  Union  Society,  &c  The  Eiiisburg  Fe.  Me.  So.  to  aid  F.  M. 
The  Female  Society  in  i  exington.  Tlie  Female  Essex  Baptist  Society. 

The  Feiu.  Soc  in  Hartford  ai.d  Kingsbury.  The  Female  Society  in  Kingsbury. 
The  Fem.  Soe  in  Northampton  &  Edinburg.  The  Friend  y  Society  in  Denmark. 
The  Rutland  Female  Society.  The  Alfred   Mile  Society. 

The  Gorham  Female  Cent  Society.  The  Phelps  Fema'e  Mite  Society. 

The  Bap.  Fem   Mite  So.  to  aid  Board  of  F.  M.  'lhe  Gorham  Femaie  Mite  Society. 
The  Farmington  Fem.  Soc.  for  Mis.  purposes.  Tlie  Lorain  Femaie  Society. 
The  Rodman  Fema.e  Mite  Society.  The  Fem   Me.  So.  of  Du;'.iiestown,  &C 

The  Female  Mite  Soc.  of  Scoharrie,  aux.  to  the  Bap.  Board  of  Foreign  Missions. 
The  Female  Mite  Society  at  Salem.  The  Female  Mile  Soc.  of  Cohansey. 

The  Hightsto\.n  Female  Mite  Society.  'lhe  Mount- Ho:  y  Female  Mile  Soc. 

The  Peters  Crk.  Soc.  for  pr.  For.  Evan.  Miss.  The  Philadel.  Bap.  African  Miss.  Soc. 
The  Washington  Female  Mite  Society.  The  Homesburg  Female  Society. 

The  Delaware  Branch  Society  for  Foreign  Missions. 

The  Bap.  Miss.  Soc  of  Frederick  County.  The  Roanoke  Bap.  Mis.  Society,  &c, 
The  Fredericksburg  Bap.  F.  &  D.  Mis  Soc.      The  Virginia  Portsmouth  Bap.  M.  S. 

I  he  Chowan  Baptist  Missionary  Society. 

The  Fem.  aux.  B.  Soc.  for  Ev.  Mis.  C.  Fear.    The  Hico  Female  Bap.  Cent  Society. 
The  Bap.  aux.  M  Soc.  of  Society  Hii!  and  vie.  The  B.  aux.  Mis.  So.  of  Mt.  Pisgah,  &c. 
The  B.  aux.  Mis.  Soc  of  Betilah  &  vicinity.    The  B.  aux.  Mis.  So.  of  Ebenezer,  &c. 
The  B.  aux.  Mis.  Soc  of  Sugar  Creek,  &c.        The  Beaulbrt  Dist.  Bap.  So.  for  F.  M. 
The  Wadmalau  &  Edisto  Fe.  Mice  Society.    The  Ebenezer  Female  Mite  Society. 
The  Sunbury  Bap.  Missionary  Society  auxiliary  to  the  Bap.  Boaid  of  Foreign  Miss. 

The  Sunbury  Fe.  Cent  Soc.  for  ben.  of  F.  M.  The  Juvenile  Cent  Society  of  Sunbury 

The  Young  Ladies  Ct.  S.  at  Sweet  Hill  school.  The  Poweiton  Fem.  Praj  mg  Society. 
The  Mission  Society  of  the  Tennessee  association  aux-  to  Bap.  tun.  Miss.  Coiiven. 
The  West  Tennessee  Bap.  Miss.  Soc.  aux.  lo  the  Bap.  Board  of  Foreign  Missions. 
The  Mission  Soe.  of  the  Holston  ass.  aux.  to  the  Bap.  Gen.  Missionary  Convention. 
The  Shelby  ville  Society  auxiliary  to  the  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign  Missions. 
The  Cincinnati  Bap.  Foreign  Mis.  Society.    The  Delav  are  &  Bt  rkshire  Mis.  Society. 
The  Cincinnati  Fe-  Bap.  Soc.  for  Mis.  purp.     The  Fem.  Soc.  of  Cin.  for.  Char,  purp, 
The  Fem.  Bible  and  Char.  So.  of  Lebanon.    The  Chiilicothe  Fem.  Benevolent  Soc. 


At  the  close  of  this  extended  list  of  Societies,  it  is  peculiarly  gratifying  to  observe,  that  in  tlie 


the  Washington  Society,  on  bis  way  to  the  Convention,  also,  by  an  afflictive  pi ■ovuit jj ice.  w as  in- 
duced to  return  wiihout  meeting  the  body-and  that  the  delegates  from  the  Kentucky  Soiiery  ueic 
prevented  from  attending.  Eight  of  these  societies  were  represented  by  proxv-thc  "ex.  Jesse 
Mercer  acting  as  proxy  for  the  Sare/ita  Society,  \\  hose  delegate  was  not  present— anu  int.  ixc»  • 
Luther  Rice  for  the  Louisiana  Society,  both  of  whose  delegates  failed  of  attending. 

Forty  Delegates  were  present,  and  one  of  the  honorary  members  of  the  Convention,  tne  nev . 
Thomas  B.  Montanye.  .  . 

To  lb- se  forty  Societies  represented  in  the  Convention,  may  be  added  forty-three  others,  spread 
through  the  several  states-and  one  hundred  and  Jour  Female  Societies;  making  in  all  on?  IWnareq 
and  eighty-seven  societies— one  hundred  and  ten  of  which  are  Female  Societies. 

R 


138 

CONSTITUTION, 

AS  AMENDED  AND   PASSED    1 2TH   MAY,    181/. 

WE,  the  delegates  from  Missionary  Societies,  and  other  religious  bodies  ot 
the  Baptist  denomination,  in  Various  parts  of  the  United  Stales,  met  in  Con- 
vention, in  the  city  of  Philadelphia*,  fop  the  purpose  of  carrying-  into  effect  the 
benevolent  intentions  of  our  constituents,  by  organizing  a  plan  for  eliciting, 
combining,  and  directing  the  energies  of  the  whole  denomination,  in  one  sacred 
effort,  for  sending  the  glad  tidings  of  Salvation  to  the  Heathen,  and  to  nations 
destitute  of  pure  Gospel  light,  no  agree  to  the  following  rules,  or  fundamental 
principles,  vis 

I.  That  this  body  shall  be  styled  *'  The  General  Missionary  Convention 
of  the  Baptist  Denomination  in  the  United  States  of  America,  for  Foreign 
Missions." 

It.  That  a  triennial  Convention  shall  hereafter  be  held,  consisting  of  Dele- 
gates, not  exceeding  two  in  number,  from  each  of  the  several  Missionary 
Societies,  and  other  religious  bodies  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  now  existing, 
or  which  may  hereafter  be  formed,  in  the  United  States,  and  which  shall  each 
regularly  contribute  to  the  General  Missionary  Fund  a  sum  amounting,  at  least, 
to  one  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 

III.  That  for  the  n  cessary  transaction  and  despatch  of  business,  during  the 
recess  of  the  said  Convention,  there  shall  be  a  Board  of  thirty-one  Commission- 
ers, who  shall  be  members  of  the  said  societies,  churches,  or  other  religious 
bodies  aforesaid,  triennially  appointed  by  the  said  Convention,  by  ballot,  to  be 
called  "  The  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  for  the  United  States."  That 
the  said  Board  shall  hold  an  annual  meeting,  the  quorum  at  which  shall  consist 
of  eleven,  but  at  all  other  meetings  of  the  Board  five  shall  be  the  quorum  for 
the  transaction  of  business  ;  and  which  Board  shall  continue  in  office  until 
successors  be  duly  appointed,  and  shall  hive  power  to  make  and  adopt  by-laws 
for  the  government  of  the  said  Board,  and  for  the  furtherance  of  the  general 
objects  of  the  institution. 

IV.  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  Board  to  employ  missionaries,  and,  if 
necessary,  take  measures  for  the  improvement  of  their  qualifications  ;  to  fix  on 
the  field  of  their  labours  ;  on  the  compensation  to  be  allowed  them  for  their 
services  ;  to  superintend  their  conduct,  and  to  dismiss  them  should  their  ser- 
vices be  disapproved;  to  publish  accounts,  from  time  to  time,  of  the  Board's 
transactions,  and  an  annual  Address  to  the  public;  to  call  a  special  meeting  of 
the  Convention  on  any  extraordinary  occasion  ;  and,  in  general,  conduct  the 
executive  part  of  the  missionary  concern. 

V.  That  such  persons,  only,  as  are  in  full  communion  with  some  regular 
church  of  our  denomination,  and  who  furnish  satisfactory  evidence  of  genuine 
piety,  good  talents,  and  fervent  zeal  for  the  Redeemer's  cause,  are  to  be  em- 
ployed as  missionaries. 

VI.  That  the  Board  shall  choose,  by  ballot,  one  President,  four  Vice  Presi- 
dents, whu  shall  take  precedence  of  each  other  in  the  order  of  their  election, 
one  Treasurer,  one  Corresponding,  and  one  Recording  Secretary. 

Vn.  That  the  President,  or  in  case  of  his  absence,  or  disability,  the  senior 
Vice-President,  present,  shall  preside  in  all  meetings  of  the  Board,  and  when 
application  shall  be  mad?  in  writing,  by  any  two  of  its  members,  shall  call  a 
special  meeting  of  the  Board,  giving  due  notice  thereof 

VIII.  That  the  Treasurer  shall  receive,  and  faithfully  account  for,  all  monies 
paid  into  the  Treasury;  keep  a  regular  account  of  receipts  and  disbursements  ; 
make  a  report  thereof  to  the  said  Convention,  whenever  it  shall  be  in  session, 
and  to  the  Board  of  Missions  annually,  and  as  often  as  by  them  required.  He 
shall  also,  before  he  enters  on  the  duties  of  his  office,  give  competent  security, 
to  be  approved  by  the  Board,  for  the  stock  and  funds  that  may  be  committed 
to  his  care- 

IX.  That  the  Corresponding  Secretary  shall  maintain  intercourse,  by  letter, 
with  such  individuals,  societies,  or  public  bodies,  as  the  interest  of  the  institu- 
tion may  require.  Copies  of  all  communications,  made  by  the  particular  di- 
rection of  the  Convention,  or  Board,  shall  be  handed  by  him,  to  the  Recording 
Secretary,  for  record  and  safe  keeping. 

X.  TJhat  the  Recording  Secretary  shall,  ex-officio,  be  the  Secretary  of  the 


139 

Convention,  unless  some  other  be  by  them  appointed  in  his  stead.  He  shall 
attend  all  the  meetings  of  the  Board,  and  keep  a  fair  record  of  all  their  pro- 
ceedings, and  of  the  transactions  of  the  Convention. 

XI  That  in  case  of  the  death,  inability,  or  resignation  of  any  of  its  officers, 
or  members,  the  Board  shall  have  power  to  fill  such  vacancy. 

XII.  That  the  said  Convention  shall  have  power,  and  in  the  interval  of  their 
meetings,  the  Board  of  Commissioners,  on  the  recommendation  of  any  one  of 
the  constituent  bodies  belonging  to  the  Convention,  shall  also  have  power  to 
elect  honorary  members  of  piety,  and  distinguished  liberality,  who,  on  their 
election,  shall  be  entitled  to  a  seat,  and  take  part  in  the  deliberations  of  the 
Convention:  but  it  shah  be  understood  that  the  right  of  voting  shall  be  confined 
to  the  delegates. 

XIII.  'I  hat  the  Board  shall  have  power,  at  their  discretion,  to  appropriate  a 
portion  of  their  funds  to  domestic  missionary  purposes,  in  such  parts  of  this 
country  where  the  seed  of  the  Word  may  be  advantageously  cast,  and  which 
mission  societies,  on  a  small  scale,  do  not  effectively  reach . 

XIV  That  when  competent  and  distinct  funds  shall  have  been  received  for 
the  purpose,  the  Board,  from  these,  without  resorting  at  all  to  the  mission 
funds,  shall  proceed  to  institute  a  Classical  and  Theological  Seminar)',  for  the 
purpose  of  aiding  pious  young  men,  who,  in  the  judgment  of  the  churches  of 
which  they  are  members,  and  of  the  Board,  possess  gifts  and  graces  suited  to 
the  Gospel  ministry. 

XV  That  the  Board  shall  have  power  to  make  such  compensation  to  the 
Corresponding  Secretary,  as  shall  in  their  judgment  be  adequate  to  his  diversi- 
fied services  ;  and,  for  this  purpose,  the  Bomd  shall  have  power  to  accept  of 
any  funds  contributed  with  the  special  design  of  forming  a  distinct  fund,  the 
interest  only  of  which  shall  be  applicable  to  the  support  of  the  said  Secretary. 

XVI.  That  in  case  any  of  the  constituent  bodies  shall  be  unable  to  send 
representatives  to  the  said  Convention,  they  shall  be  permitted  to  vote  by  proxy, 
which  proxy  shall  be  appointed  by  writing. 

XVII.  That  any  alterations  which  experience  may  dictate,  from  time  to 
lime,  may  be  made  in  these  articles,  at  the  regular  meeting  of  the  Convention, 
by  two-thirds  of  the  members  present. 


After  the  rising  of  the  Convention,  the  newly  appointed  Board  met  in  San- 
som-street  Meeting-house,  15th  May,  1817 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Baldwin  opened  the  meeting  with  prayer. 

The  Board  proceeded  to  the  election  of  Officers,  and  the  following  were 
chosen : 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Baldwin,  D.D.  of  Boston,  Mass.  President. 

Thomas   Shields,  Esq.  of  Philad.    1st  Vice-President. 
-The  Rev.  Robert  B.  Scmfile,  A.M.  of  Virginia,  2d  Vice-President. 
The  Hon.  Matthias  B.  Tall?nadge,  Esq.  of  N.Y   3d  Vice-President. 
The  Rev.  Burgiss  Jtlliaon,  D.D.  of  Philad.  4th  Vice-President. 

John  Cauldwell,  Esq.  of  New-York,  Treasurer. 
The  Rev.  William  Staughton,  D.D.  of  Philad.  Cor.  Secretary. 
The  Rev.  Horatio  G.  Jones,  of  Roxborough,  Pa.  Rec.  Secretary. 

Several  communications  from  India  were  reaj,  which  imparted  high  satis- 
faction. 

A  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  Dr.  Staughton,  Dr.  Furman,  Mr. 
Maclay,  and  Mr.  Cauldwell,  to  examine  the  state  of  our  accounts  with  our 
missionaries  in  India,  and  ascertain  what  sums  of  money  ought  to  be  sent  to 
them. 

A  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  Drs.  Furman,  Baldwin,  and 
Staughton,  on  the  subject  of  the  continuance  of  the  Agency  recommended  by 
the   Convention. 

Resolved,  That  committees  be  appointed  by  this  Board,  in  different  sections 
of  the  United  States,  for  the  purpose  of  examining  applicants  for  Missionary 
employ. 


140 

Pursuant  to  this  resolution,  the  Rev.   Thomas  Baldwin,  D.D.,  and  the  Rev. 

Messrs.  Daniel  Sharp,  Lucius  Boltes,  Joseph  Grafton,  and  James  M  Winchell, 
were  appointed  the  committee  for  the  Northern  section.  The  Rev.  Richard 
Furman,  U  D.,  the  Rev  John  M.  Roberts,  D.D  ,  the  Rev.  Jesse  Mevcei,  and  the 
General  Committee  of  the  Charleston  Association,  were  appointed  the  commit- 
tee for  the  Southern  section.  The  Rev.  Jeremiah  Vardeman,  his  Excellency 
Gabriel  Slaughter,  Esq.  and  ihe  Rev  Messrs,  Silas  M  Noel,  Isaac  Hodden  and 
William  Warder,   were  appointed  die  committee  for  the  Western  section. 

Resolved,  That  if  at  any  time  other  members  of  the  Board  should  be  present 
at  their  meetings,  they  shall  be  entitles  to  a  seat  with  any  of  these  committees. 

The  cjuimittee  on  the  subject  of  tiie  Agency  made  report,  which  was 
accepted. 

Resolved,  That  pursuant  to  the  recommendation  of  the  Convention,  and  the 
report  of  the  committee  on  the  subject,  such  an  Agency  he  continued. 

A  letier  addressed  to  the  Convention,  prepared  by  Mr.  Rice  at  the  instance  of 
several  members  of  that  body,  on  the  subject  of  Ids  missionary  views,  a.  d  the 
relations  between  the  Board  and  himself,  in  which  he  distinctly  solicits  tiie  de- 
lioerate  sense  of  the  body  as  to  his  duty  relative  to  going  immediately  to 
Burmahj  and  which,  after  the  subject  had  been  weighed,  it  was  judged  proper 
should  be  referred  to  the  Board,  was  read.  On  tins  communication  die  Rev. 
Drs  Furman,  Staughtoh  and  Baldwin  were  appointed  a  committee,  who,  »fter 
due  consultation  on  the  subject,  reported;  winch  report  was  accepted:  and  the 
Board,  upon  seriously  considering  the  case,  being  united  and  decided  in  the 
opinion,  that  it  is  not  the  duty  of  Mr.  Rice,  as  yet,  to  depart  for  the  Barman 
empire, 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  brother  Rice  be  continued  agent  cf  the  Board 
in  the  United  States  ;  and  tiut  Dr.  Staughton,  Dr  Furman,  and  Mr  Mercer,  be  a 
committee  to  confer  with  him,  relative  to  the  direction  of  his  ensuing  labours. 

On  the  communication  made  by  the  president  of  the  Convention  to  that  body, 
and  referred  to  the  Board,  relative  to  assisting  the  education  of  such  pious 
voung  men  as  appear  to  be  called  of  God  to  the  work  of  the  ministry, 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  are  impressed  with  the  importance  of  the  subject, 
and  will  cheerfully  adopt  measures,  as  opportunity  shall  serve,  particularly  by 
endeavouring  to  diffuse  information  themselves  on  the  subject,  by  their  Agent, 
and  Missionaries,  and  otherwise,  to  bring  it  to  full  effect. 

The  application  of  Messrs  James  Colman  and  Edward  W.  Wheelock,  for 
Missionary  service  in  Burmah,  was  taken  into  consideration. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  they  be  accepted  as  our  Missionaries,  provided 
they  meet  the  approbation  of  the  committee  of  the  Northern  section,  and  that 
their  outfit  be  provided  without  delay. 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Baldwin,  Mr.  Sharp,  and  Mr.  Bolles,  be  a  committee  to 
attend  to  the  outfit  of  brethren  Wheelock  and  Colman,  when  approved,  with 
their  families  ;  and  that  the  said  committee  he  authorized  to  draw  on  the 
Treasurer  for  the  amount  necessary. — Also,  that  1560  dollars  be  put  into  the 
hands  of  the  said  brethren  Colman  and  Wheelock,  on  their  going  out  to  India. 

Resolved,  That  300U  dollars  be  transmitted  to  India  for  the  use  of  our  Mis- 
sionaries; 2000  for  the  support  of  brethren  Judson  and  Hough,  and  their  families, 
and  1000  to  assist  in  the  translation  department,  and  the  printing  of  the  Scrip- 
tures and  religious  tracts  in  Burmah. 

Tiie  subject  of  domestic  missions,  and  missions  to  the  Indian  tribes  on  our 
own  continent  was  taken  into  consideration. 

Resoived,  That  the  Board  contemplate,  with  deep  concern,  the  miserable 
condition  of  the  various  tribes  of  Indians  on  our  own  continent;  that  they 
regard  as  a  favourable  indication  in  Providence,  the  anxious  solicitude  which 
many,  particularly  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Indians,  manifest  for  introducing 
the  Gospel  rniong  them  ;  that  this  Board  will  avail  itself  of  tiie  earliest  oppor- 
tunity, whc;  any  suitable  person  or  persons  shall  offer  for  the  service,  to  make 
a  vigorous  effort  in  relation  to  some  of  the  tribes;  and  that,  pursuant  to  this 
determisiatjon,  the  Corresponding  Secretary  be  instructed  io  write  to  the  Rev. 
Humphrey  l'osey,  from  whom  some  interesting  information  has  been  already  re- 
ceived, to  learn  of  him  still  further  his  views,  particularly  m  relation  to  the 
Cherokee*,  in  tvhose  neighbourhood  he  has  resided,  whether  he  would  be  willing 
to  labour  among  them,  and  if  so,  what  plan  of*  operation  he  could  suggest  as 


141 

most  eligible,  and  what  support  would  be  requisite.— Also,  that  the  Correspond- 
ing Secretary  be  instructed  to  write  to  the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the 
Sarepia  Mission  Society  on  this  subject,  and  to  any  others  from  whom  be  may 
judge  important  information  may  be  obtained. 

Application  was  made  on  the  part  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  John  M.  Peck,  and 
James  E.  Welch,  for  an  appointment  to  a  Western  missioD,  having  reference 
ultimately  to  the  Western  Indians  This  application  was  accompanied  with 
a  statement  by  their  tutor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Staughton,  much  in  favour  of  their 
religious  character  and  deportment  while  members  of  his  family,  and  of  their 
talents  and  acquirements  for  the  sacred  ministry,  which  was  highly  satisfactory 
to  the  Board. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  said  brethren,  James  E.  Welch  and  John 
M.  Peck,  be  accepted  as  M^sionaries  of  this  Boaid  ;  that  they  be  instructed 
to  proceed,  as  soon  as  convenient,  to  the  westward,  with  a  view  to  commence 
their  labours  at  St.  Louis,  or  its  vicinity,  in  the  Missouri  Territory;  that  1000 
dollars  be  placed  in  their  hands,  to  assist  them  in  going  with  their  families  to 
Si.  Louis,  and  to  support  them  in  the  commencement  of  their  missionary  exer- 
tions ;  that  they  be  authorized  and  reques'ed  to  imike  collections  of  money,  and 
of  books,  as  opportunities  ofier,  with  a  view  of  aidirg  the  Western  mission, 
and  give  account  of  the  same  to  the  Board  ;  that  they  be  instructed  also  to 
make  inquiries,  after  arriving  in  the  missionary  field,  relative  to  the  native 
tribes  in  that  quarter  ;  and  that,  on  the  ensuing  Sabbath,  they  be  solemnly  set 
apart  to  the  service  of  the  said  Western  mission. 

Resolved,  That  the  Corresponding  Secretary  he  instructed  to  write  to  the 
Rev  Isaac  M'Coy,  informing  him  of  the  designation  of  the  two  brethren  to 
missionary  service  in*  St.  Louis,  and  the  surrounding  country,  for  which 
station  they  had  been  for  a  considerable  time  diligently  preparing ;  that  his  ap- 
plication has  been  received  by  the  Board  with  emotions  or  pleasure  and  satis- 
faction; and  that  they  request  him  to  inform  them  whether  there  is  not  in  that 
quarter,  and  perhaps  nearer  to  Vincennes  than  is  St.  Louis,  some  other  station  in 
which  a  missionary  is  equally  needed,  and  in  which  he  would  be  willing  to  labour. 

Also,  that  the  Corresponding  Secretary  be  requested  to  write  to  the  Rev. 
John  Young,  of  Kentucky,  in  reply  to  his  letters,  informing  him,  that  on  apply- 
ing to  the  committee  for  the  Western  section  of  our  country,  appointed  for  the 
examination  of  applicants  for  missionary  service,  should  he  think  proper  to  do 
so,  they  will  m?ke  such  a  representation  of  the  case  to  the  Board  as  their  piety 
and  prudence  may  dictate,  and  to  which  the  Board  .vill  find  pleasure  in  paying 
the  earliest  attention. 

A  letter  from  the  Rev.  James  A.  Ranaldson  at  New  Orleans,  in  which  he 
signifies  a  willingness  to  accept  a  missionary  appointment  in  that  quarter, 
where,  it  appears,  an  extensive  field  for  missionary  labour  calls  for  the  hand  of 
cultivation,  was  taken  into  consideration.  The  case  of  Mr  Ranaldson  was 
also  recommended  b\  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  William  B  Johnson. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  Rev.  Mr  Ranaldson  be  employed  as  a 
missionary  of  this  Board  in  New  Orleans  and  its  vicinity  :  and  thai  he  be  re- 
quested to  visit  such  of  the  Indian  tribes  in  that  quarter  as  he  has  referred  to 
in  his  etter,  and  other:,,  if  he  can  ;  and  inquire  into  the  practicability  of  es- 
tablishing schools  among  them  ;  and  that  500  dollars  be  forwarded  to  his 
assistance. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Board  be  presented  to  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Marshman,  for  tendering  to  this  body  ihe  acceptable  compliment  of 
his  Clavis  Sinica  ;  and  that  die  Corresponding  Secretary  be  requested  to 
comn  mi  cute  to  him  this  resolution. 

The  Aeent  of  the  Bo;  rd,  Mr.  Rice,  having  stated  that  money  and  subscrip- 
tions to  the  amount  of  500  dollars,  had  been  leceived  by  him  towards  the  for- 
mation of  a  d.st.nct  fund,  the  interest  only  of  which  to  be  applied  to  the  support 
of  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  and  this  measure  having  met  the  decisive  ap- 
probation of  the  Convention  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  ui  at  itnoysly,  That  this  Board  will,  with  pleasure,  accept  such 
monies  as  may  be  contributed  ;'or  the  special  and  important  purpose  of  furnish- 
ing, permanently,  the  requisite  support  for  their  Corresponding  Secretary;  and 
that,  till  the  fund  thus  produced  by  voluntary  contributions  to  this  object  shall 
be  sufficient  for  the  reasonable  support  of  the  said  Secretary,  he  be  allowed,  for 


14£ 

the  present,  out  of  the  common  funds,  at  the  rate  of  400  dollars  per  annum, 
to  be  paid  quarterly. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  adjourned. 

June  2  — A  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held. 

Resolved,  that  the  plan  exhibited  by  the  president  of  the  Conve  ntion,  rela- 
tive to  education,  be  referred  at  the  following  committee,  viz  brcthr  en  Staugh- 
ton,    Vliison,  md  Jones,  to  report  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Board. 

The  committee  appointed  to  confer  with  brother  Rice,  respecting  his  tourof 
sluty  the  present  year  "ported,  that  they  recomm  nd  him  to  visit  the  Green 
River  Association,  in  Kentucky,  the  latter  part  of  July  ;  and  afterwards  pursue 
such  oarse  as  he  may  deem  expedient  fo-  accomplishing  the  objects  of  his 
appointment. — Unanimously  accepted.     Adjourned. 


To    the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions  for  the  United  States. 

DEAR    SIR, 

Permit  me  to  lay  before  you  a  brief  detail  of  the  course,  which  a  resolution 
of  the  Board  of  the  22d  June,  1816,  made  it  my  duty  to  pursue  from  that  to  the 
present  time. 

After  assisting  to  prepare  and  get  printed  the  second  Annual  Report ;  having 
accomplished,  in  part,  the  distribution  of  it,  and  made  arrangements  with  brethren 
Peck  and  Welch  to  complete  the  distribution  j  having  .taken  one  collection  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  this  city  for  the  missionary  object,  and  had  the  honour  of 
delivering  the  annual  missionary  sermon  for  the  Sansom -street  Baptist  female 
Society  for  promoting  foreign  Evangelical  missions,  I  left  Philadelphia  the  25th 
July,  and,  proc-edin^  through  Delaware,  Maryland,  and  Virginia,  attended, 
near  Warrenton,  the  Xorth  Carolina  Baptist  Gem  ral  Meeting  of  Correspondence, 
the  first  Saturday  and  Sabbath  in  August,  conformably  to  my  instructions.  The 
Meeting  entered  cordially  into  the  views  of  the  Board,  appointed  a  Corresponck 
ing  Secretary  for  tiie  purpose  of  reciprocating  attentions,  and  maintaining  in- 
tercourse, and  took  up  a  public  liberal  collection  to  aid  the  general  mission 
funds. 

Returning  by  the  way  of  Richmond,  Va.  and  proceeding  to  Goochland  county, 
opportunity  was  afforded  me  on  Saturday,  at  a  Yearly  Meeting  to  address  a 
large  assembly  on  the  subject  of  missions,  and  to  witness  a  very  nappy  d  splay 
of  liberality  in  favour  of  the  cause  ;  and  on  the  Sabbath  a  similar  opportunity, 
at  the  Appomattox  Association  in  Prince  Edward  county,  conferred  a  similar 
happiness.  The  next  Saturday  and  S  ibbath,  at  the  Country  Line  Association, 
in  Caswell  county.  N  C.  the  same  disposition  was  manifested  in  favour  of  mis- 
sionary efforts  ;  and  the  Saturday  and  Sabbath  following,  also,  at  the  Mountain 
Association,  in  Burke  county,  in  the  same  state. 

To  be  with, the  Shiloh  Association,  Culpepper  county,  Va.  the  next  Saturday 
aivl  Sabbath,  required  my  riding  four  hundred  miles  in  six  days;  nor  was  the 
gratification  small,  after  accomplishing  so  arduous  a  movement,  to  mark  the 
re.  di  iess  with  which  that  respectable  body  consented  to  a  regular  correspond- 
ence with  the  Board.  As  a  matter  of  course,  a  public  collection  was  taken  up 
for  missionary  purposes  The  fatigue  of  getting  to  the  Green  Brier  Association, 
Monroe  county,  Va.  by  the  next  Saturday  and  Sabbath,  where  an  excellent  zeal 
for  missions  was  displayed,  was  little  less,  though  the  distance  was  not  so  great. 
Nor  was  it,  without  much  toil  and  difficulty,  owing  to  the  rains,  the  rivers,  the 
creeks,  the  mountains,  and  the  mud,  practicable  for  me  to  get  to  the  North 
District  Association,  Montgomery  county,  Ky.  by  the  Sabbath  following.  From 
this  it  was  easy  to  go  to  the  Franklin  Association,  Franklin  county,  Ky.  by  the 
next  Sabbath  ;  and  not  difficult  to  be  with  the  Union  Association  on  Friday  of 
the  same  week,  in  Knox  county,  Ky  All  these  readily  came  into  the  plan  of  a 
regular  intercourse  with  the  Board 

Going  thence  into  Tennessee,  by  Saturday  of  the  next  week  I  was  with  the 
Flint  River  Association,  which  belongs  partly  to  Tennessee,  and  partly  to  the 
Missisippi  Territory,  and  by  which  the  mission  concern  was  attended  to  in  a 
satisfactory  manner.     Turning  eastwardly,  and  Grossing  Cumberland  mountain, 


143 

at  the  Tennessee  Association,  Blount  county,  the  ensuing  Saturday,  it  afforded 
me  great  pleasure  to  assist  in  bringing  about  the  formation  of  a  mission  society. 
Instantly  passing  on  into  North  Carolina  again,  to  be  at  the  Broad  liiver  As- 
sociation, Rutherford  county,  at  its  opening  on  Friday,  and  at  the  Pee  Dec 
Association,  Montgomery  county,  about  120  miles  distance,  on  Sabbath  morning 
ensuing  ;  and  then  at  the  Sandy  Creek  Association,  Randolph  county,  the  iext 
Saturday  and  Sabbath,  it  was  peculiarly  gratifying  to  witness  in  these  different 
bodies  the  readiness  and  zeal  with  which  the  missionary  object  was  encouraged. 
Nor  was.it  less  gratifying  to  be  with  the  Charleston  Association,  Marlborough 
District,  S  C.  the  next  Saturday  and  Sabbath,  whose  dignified  and  decisive  pa- 
tro  age  has,  from  the  first,  liberally  aided  the  cause  in  which  the  Board  is 
engaged.  From  this  it  was  necessary  to  hasten  with  great  expedition,  in  order 
to  be  by  the  following  Sabbath,  with  the  Ebenezer  Association.  Pulaski  county, 
Georgia.  At  this  place  it  was  a  great  happiness  to  meet  wnh  so  large  and  re- 
spectable  an  association,  within  two  miles  of  the  line  which  separates  between 
the  possessions  of  savage  and  civilized  man;  on  ground,  too,  which  only  about 
ten  years  before  was  the  haunt  of  barbarous  heathen  tribes. 

Thus,  in  fifteen  weeks,  besides  travelling  more  than  330G  miles,  ard  attending 
the  A'orth  Carolina  Baptist  General  Meeting  of  Correspondence,  a  Yearly  Meet- 
ing in  Virginia,  a  meeting  of  the  Kentucky  Baptist  Mission  Society,  in  Kentucky, 
and  assisting  the  rormationofa  Mission  Society  iri  Tennessee,  a  fond  Providence 
enabled  me  to  visit  fifteen  associations,  spitad  through  Virginia,  Ki  i  lucky,  Ten- 
nessee, Missisippi  Territory,  the  Carolinas,  and  Georgia.  At  each  of  these  as- 
sociations a  public  collection  was  taken  up  to  aid  the  general  missionary  funds, 
and  by  each  of  them  the  plan  has  been  adopted  of  a  regular  intercourse  and 
correspondence  with  the  Board 

The  next  Sabbath  after  mv  being  at  the  Ebenezer  Association,  was  spent  in 
Milledgeville,  the  capital  of  Georgia;  nor  could  it  fail  to  inspire  emotions,  in 
no  common  degree  pleasing,  to  receive  in  the  state-house,  the  handsomest  col- 
lection yet  received  since  commencing  the  missionary  career  ;  and  that  in  a 
section  of  country,  which  only  thirteen  years  before  was  a  wilderness  suitable 
for  the  range  of  savage  men,  and  actually  in  possession  of#the  Indians  Fifty 
dollars  were  added  to  the  collection  next  morning  by  a  pious  lady  in  the 
neighbourhood 

By  this  time,  the  meetings  of  associations  being  over,  it  was  thought  proper 
to  direct  attention  more  particularly  towards  the  mission  societies,  with  refer- 
ence to  the  meeting  of  the  General  Missienaiy  Convention.  Many  of  these 
societies  had  not  even  the  Constitution,  of  the  Convention  in  their  possession  ; 
of  course,  did  not  know  exactly  the  terms  of  representation  in  it,  nor  the  time 
of  its  me  ting.  Many  suggestions,  also,  had  been  offered  by  different  persons; 
by  Dr.  Furman,  by  Judge  '1  allmadge,  and  by  others  of  the  Board,  and  by  many 
who  were  not  of  the  Board,  indicating  the  prop.iety  of  alterations  in  the  Con- 
stitution, and  mode  of  conducting  the  business.  Hence  it  was  deemed  expe- 
dient to  have  the  original  Constitution  reprinted,  and  to  shape  and  arrange  the 
suggestions  which  bad  come  to  view  from  so  many  different  sources,  and  get 
them  printed  on  the  same  paper,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  information  to  the 
societies  of  the  character  and  time  of  meeting  of  the  Convention,  of  enabling 
them  to  judge  of  the  alterations  contemplated,  and  ot  exciting  attention  to  the 
subject,  in  order  that  the  best  views  of  the  whole  denomination  might  be  brought 
together,  harmonized,  and  combined  at  the  meeting  this  season.  On  the  reading 
of  this  paper,  agreeably  to  what  had  been  anticipated,  other  suggestions  were 
offered  by  various  persons.  These  were  arranged  with  such  modifications  of  the 
former  ones  as  coincided  with  them,  and  afterwards  printed  on  another  paper. 
Neither  of  these  was  of  my  framing  ;  nor,  indeed,  was  there  time  in  the  case 
for  any  other  than  hasty  compilations  from  the  suggestions  thrown  upon  the 
view  from  the  sources  already  pointed  out,  and  by  discussions  in  missionary 
bodies. 

Without  delay,  after  spending  the  Sabbath  in  Milledgeville,  as  already  stated, 
and  having  made  arrangements  for  meeting  as  many  of  the  members  of  five  dif- 
ferent missionary  bodies,  as  might  be  convenient,  at  five  different  appointments, 
in  so  many  weeks,  in  the  middle  and  upper  parts  of  the  state,  I  proceeded  down 
the  country,  and  spent  the  following  Sabbath  at  Sunbury.  Having  consulted 
with  the  members  of  the  mission  societies  there,  and  at  Sweet  Hill,  been  present 


144 

at  the  formation  of  a  Cent  society  Ly  the  young  Indies  at  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sweet's 
school,  at  the  hitter  place,  and  received  a  liberal  collection  in  Savannah,  1  passed 
into  South  Carolina,  and  spent  the  succeeding  Sabbath  at  the  Kuhaw  meeting, 
where,  by  public  contribution,  and  from  individuals  in  the  vicinity,  something 
handsome  was  obtained  for  the  mission.  After  consulting  with  members  of  the 
•Mission;  society  in  this  quarter,  and  a  short  visit  to  Beaufort  for  the  same  pur- 
pose, I  proceeded  to  Charleston,  and  there  spent  the  next  Sabbath. 

The  venerable  president  of  the  Convention,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Furman,  having 
before  suggested  the  propriety  of  enabling  The  secretary  of  the  mission  to  de- 
vote a  large  portion  of  his  time  to  the  business;  in  conversation  with  ctlters  on 
the  subject,  the  idea  had  presented  itself  with  great  force  as  probably  practi- 
cable, and  what  would  be  in  no  ordinary  degree  useful,  to  create,  out  of  con- 
tributions of  liberal  individuals,  given  specially  for  that  purpose,  and  which, 
generally  speaking,  would  be  so  much  over  and  above  what  they  would  other- 
wise devote  to  the  missionary  cause,  a  distinct  fund,  the  interest  of  which  should 
be  the  continual  support  of  the  said  secretary.  Under  an  impression  of  this 
kind,  and  anxious  that  nothing  should  be  omitted  which  might  conduce  to  the 
benefit  of  the  general  cause,  and,  ac  the  same  time,  gratified  that  a  suggestion, 
which  appeared  to  me  of  so  much  importance,  had  originated  with  so  eminent 
a  character,  and  had  been  mentioned  to  me  also  by  Judge  Tallmadge,  I  con- 
ceived it  not  improper,  and  hesitated  not,  to  make  an  experiment,  and  to  receive 
such  donations  and  subscriptions,  towards  such  a  special  fund,  as  individuals, 
after  conversing  upon  the  subject,  should  feel  inclined  to  put  into  my  hands. 
The  experiment  answered  my  expectations.  Handsome  donations  and  sub- 
scriptions were  soon  received,  in  Charleston,  in  Beaufort,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Coosa whatchie,  and  in  various  parts  of  Georgia.  Being  satisfied  of  the  practi- 
cability of  the  thing,  I  waived  farther  exertions  till  the  Convention  should  meet ; 
but  have  the  happiness  to  state,  that  should  the  Convention  and  Board  think 
proper  to  adopt  the  measure,  I  have  $150  in  cash,  and  $350  subscribed  for  the 
said  fund 

Returning  from  Charleston  into  the  middle  and  upper  parts  of  Georgia,  my 
tour  in  the  state  \teis  completed  ihe  fore  part  of  the  third  week  in  January, 
having  spent  in  it  only  two  months  aid  six  days,  including  the  excursion  into 
the  lower  parts  of  South  Carolina  just  adverted  to  ;  and  it  is  peculiarly  grati- 
fying to  announce,  that  the  ample  liberality,  and  happy  missionary  zeal  of  the 
people,  put  into  my  hands,  in  that  short  period,  more  than  §1500;  besides 
subscriptions  for  the  special  fund  before  mentioned  ;  and  besides  more  than 
glOOO  forwarded  this  season,  by  the  societies  in  that  quarter,  to  the  general 
fund. 

Recrossing  the  Carolinas  into  Tennessee,"  I  w;.s  happy  to  find  that  another 
Mission  Society  had  been  formed  in  East  Tennessee,  and  also  one  in  West 
Tennessee,  in  the  vicinity  of  Nashville ;  and  going  thence  into  Kentucky,  spent 
the  second  Sabbath  in  February  in  Washington  ;  consulted  with  members  of  the 
Washington  Mission  Society ;  had  a  meeting  with  some  of  the  members  of  the 
Kentucky  Mission  Society  the  same  week  ;  and  was  in  Cincinnati  Ohio,  the 
Sabbath  following-.  Here  the  same  disposition  of  liberality  and  zeal  for  missions 
was  displayed  in  a  public  collection  and  by  the  mission  societies,  as  on 
my  former  visit  to  the  place.  It  had  been  my  intention  to  visit  Chillicothe 
about  this  time,  and  have  since  learned  that  had  it  been  practicable  for  me  to  do 
so,  in  all  probability  a  mission  society  might  have  been  there  formed. 

Leaving  Cincinnati  on  Monday,  I  received  a  collection  after  preaching,  on 
Tuesday,  in  Lawrenceburg,  Indiana ;  was  in  Louisville,  Ky.  Thursday-night ; 
met  with  members  of  the  Board  of  the  Bardstown  Mission  Society  in  Bardstovvn, 
pn  Friday  evening,  and  with  those  of  the  Shelbyville  Mission  Society,  Saturday 
evening,  m  Shelbyville,  and  there  spent  the  Sabbath  ensuing  ;  was  with  mem- 
bers of  the  Green  River  Mission  Society,  in  Columbia,  Adair  county,  Ky  the 
next  Sabbath,  and  proceeded  on  through  Tennessee  again  into  North  Carolina, 
to  be  present  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  North  Carolina  Mission  Society  the 
third  Saturday  and  Sabbath  in  March.  Thence  to  Richmond  again,  in  Virginia, 
where,  the  last  Sabbath  in  March  I  had  the  honour  and  the  happiness  to  deliver 
the  annual  Missionary  sermon  of  the  Richmond  Female  Mission  Society.  To 
their  collection,  which  amounted  to  between  80  and  90  dollars,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Rice,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  with  his  usual  liberality  added  g3  afterwards . 


145 

The  next  Saturday  I  had  the  pleasure  to  meet  with  the  Fredericksburg 
Mission  Society,  in  Fredericksburg,  Va.  and  on  the  Sabbath,  the  satisfaction  of 
delivering-  a  sermon  for  the  Female  Mission  Society  of  the  same  place. 

Passing  through  Alexandria  and  Washington,  and  consulting  with  members 
of  the  Washington  Mission  Society,  I  proceeded  to  Baltimore,  and  on  the 
Sabbath  delivered  a  missionary  sermon,  and  received  a  publick  collection. 

The  third  Sabbath  in  April,  by  request  of  the  New- York  Foreign  Mission 
Society,  I  delivered  in  that  city,  their  annual  missionary  sermon  ;  and  on  the 
Tuesday  following,  by  a  similar  request,  at  Lower  Merion,  Pa.  a  missionary 
sermon  in  presence  of  the  American  Baptist  Society  for  propagating  the  gospel. 
This  evening  is  expected  of  me  in  Burlington  a  missionary  sermon  at  a  meeting 
of  the  New-Jersey  Mission  Society. 

In  addition  to  all  these  proofs  that  the  missionary  spirit  is  still  gaining  ground 
and  extending  its  influence  in  this  country,  the  multiplication  of  societies 
furnishes  one  of  the  most  convincing  and  of  the  most  animating  nature.  These 
societies,  especially  Female  societies,  have  increased  the  last  year  beyond  what 
it  is  in  my  power  distinctly  to  enumerate. 

The  hope  had,  indeed,  been  indulged,  that  it  would  be  practicable,  by  this 
time,  to  make  out  a  complete  list  of  the  numerous  and  praiseworthy  female  in- 
stitutions, spread,  and  multiplying  throughout  the  United  States ;  but  this 
cannot  be  done  at  present 

It  was  very  much  my  wish  to  have  visited  St.  Louis  in  the  course  of  the  year, 
and  for  a  considerable  time  the  expectation  was  cherished  of  being  able  to 
gratify  the  wishes  of  the  Board,  as  well  as  my  own,  in  doing  so ;  but,  availing 
myself  of  the  discretion  confided  to  me  in  relation  to  this  point,  I  deemed  it  my 
duty  to  wave  the  visit  to  that  place,  for  the  sake  of  pursuing  the  course  already 
narrated.  To  say  that  this  course  has  been  marked  with  prosperity,  would  fall 
exceed. ngly  short  of  that  thankful  expression  of  devout  gratitude  so  due  to  the 
signal  kindness  and  mercy  of  the  Lord.  Since  the  date  of  my  letter  of  the  19th 
of  June,  1816,  I  have  travelled  6600  miles — in  populous  and  in  dreary  portions 
of  country — through  \vi  Idernesses  and  over  rivers — across  mountains  and  vallies— 
in  heat  and  cold — by  day  and  by  night — in  weariness,  and  painfulness,  and  fast- 
ings, and  loneliness  ;  but,  not  a  moment  has  been  lost  for  want  of  health  ;  no 
painful  calamity  has  fallen  to  my  lot  •  no  peril  has  closed  upon  me  ;  nor  has 
fear  been  permitted  to  prey  on  my  spirits;  nor  even  inquietude  to  disturb  my 
peace.  Indeed,  constantly  has  the  favourable  countenance  of  society  towards 
the  great  objects  of  the  mission  animated  my  hopes,  while  thousands  of  con  le* 
scending  personal  attentions  and  benefits  to  myself  and  the  cause,  have  awakened 
emotions,  which  it  is  alike  impossible  to  conceal,  or  to  find  terms  sufficiently 
delicate  and  expressive  to  declare  ;  and  the  fact,  that  although  so  large  a  portion 
of  the  whole  time  has  been  unavoidably  taken  up  in  passing  from  place  to  place, 
I  have,  besides  many  other  aids  and  liberalities,  received  for  the  missionary  ob- 
ject, in  cash  and  subscription,  more  than  $4000,  could  not  fail  to  create  a  con- 
fidence of  success  in  the  general  concern,  which  nothing  but  a  reverse,  most 
unlikely  to  occur,  can  possibly  destroy.  This  fact,  too,  is  the  more  animating 
and  sustaining,  because,  while  the  sum  is  but  little  larger  than  what  passed 
through  my  hands  last  year,  the  time  of  collecting  it  has  been  considerably 
shorter,  and  a  much  smaller  proportion  of  it  consists  of  remittances  from  mission 
societies ;  remittances  being  this  year  made  by  the  delegates  to  the  Convention. 
This,  therefore,  in  conjunction  with  the  multiplying  of  mission  societies,  espe- 
cially considering  some  other  things  not  necessary  to  be  here  mentioned,  marks 
decisively  a  regularly  growing  increase  of  evangel ic  missionary  zeal ;  and  who 
can  repress  the  exclamation — the  Lord  hath  dune  great  things  for  us!  blessed 
be  the  Lord  God,  who  only  doeth  -wondrous  things ;  and  let  the  -whole  earth  be 
Jilted  -with  his  glory  ! 

With  sentiments  of  great  respect  and  affection, 
\our  Agent, 

LUTHER  RICE 
Rev.  Dr.  Staughton,  Cor.  Sec'ry,  &c. 
IVdladelphia,  May  6,  1817. 


J/±o 


TABLE  OF  ASSOCIATIONS. 


Names 

of  the 

Associations. 


>wdoinham, 

ncoln, 

nnberland, 

■w  Hampshire 

eredith, 

nblin, 

laftsbury, 

oodstock, 

'rmont, 

urfield, 

irre, 

inville, 

?yden, 

urbridge, 

Jston, 

'estfield, 

rarren, 

jarly  Meeting, 

onington, 

roton  Union, 

artford, 

ew  York, 

rai'\vick, 

tsego, 

liemung, 

ensselaerville, 

lyuga, 

ssex, 

iratoga, 

lack  River, 

adison, 

ake  George, 

nion, 

ranklin, 

ollandPurchase 

:.  Lawrence, 

ntario, 

udsnn  River, 

ew  Jersey, 

hiladelphia, 

edstone, 

bington, 

Delaware, 

alisbury, 

laltimore, 

^etocton, 

trawben-y, 

•over, 

liddle  District, 

Loanoke, 

ortsmouth, 

.ibemarle, 

ioshen, 

hiloh, 

lew  River, 

layho, 

Lpuomattox, 

leherrin, 

Jnion. 

Jreen  Brier, 

Iceomaek, 

Vsshington, 

I'ey's  Valley, 

iandy  Creek, 

iehukee, 

Yadkin, 

Mat  River, 

Mountain, 

Jape  Fear. 

'howan, 

'ountry  Line, 

ialeigh, 

French  Broad, 

Pee  Dee, 

Charleston, 

B-thel, 

Broad  River. 

Saluda, 

Edgefield, 

Moriah, 

Georgia, 

Hephzibah, 


36 


Me. 
Me. 

Me. 
N.  H.  20  24 
N.H.'  9 
N.  HJ15 

Vt.     1^5 


24123 

!32!28 


Corresponding  Secretaries,  Standing 
Secretaries,  Clerks,  and  Correspond- 
ents. 


1867  Robert  Low,  New  Gloucester,  Cumb.  co.  4  Wed.  24  Sep.  10  A.  M 


Times  of  Meetings  -  I   Places  of  Meeting* 

ofthe  of  the 

Associations.       18 17.    Associations. 


121 


Vt. 
Vt. 

VI. 
Vt. 
Vt. 

Ms, 

Ms. 

Ms. 

Ms, 

R.  I.  40|36 

R.  Lil7l4 

Ct.      24)22  316 

ct.   .to:  q|io4 

Ct.  '25' 181328 
N.  Y.  28,18!  62 
N.  Y.'l9'l0!301 
N.  Y.32  26|122 
N.  Y.  14:i3! 
N.  Y.  17!l8!203 
N.  \. 22  1038ft 
N.  y.,  7:  2;l«0 
N.  Y.<24!16|263 
N.  Y.  15  12J218 
N.  Y.  4333  635 
N.  Y. 
N.  Y.13  8'  75 
N.  V.'20;i83fi2 
N.  Y.  14'  4! 
Y.  5'  4 
N.  Y.'37  23  267 
N.  Y.,  fi  6: 
N.  J.  |24  lfi!  72 
Pa.  24  35  233 
Pa.  3322J  01 
Pa.        31  3    13 


2907 \Phine hasPilsbm  ;/,Nobleboro.Lincoln  co. 
268J1513 \jnhn  Tripp,  Hebron,  Comberland  co, 
180;2001  Timothy  Hodson,  Hollis,  York  co.  Maine. 
i 6  1811  Stephen  Pillsbury,  Hebron,  Grafton  co, 
20  726  John  Parkhurst.  New  Ipswich, Hilo.  co 
180  3578  Eli  Ball,  Clerk,  Lansingburg,  N.  York, 
18<io  Gen.  A.  Forbes,  Windsor,  Windsor,  co. 
1836  Nathaniel  Kendrick,  Mi.idlebury,  Ad.co. 
640  Roswell  Meers,  GeonJ  fa,  Frankiin  co. 
342  Elijah  Huntington,  Braintree,  Orange  co. 
175  Daniel  Mason,  Craftsbury,  Orleans  co, 
1746  Elijah  Montague,  Leverett,  Frank  in  co. 
2014  Augustus  Bo/to, Toiland,Tollandco.Ct. 
3203  Lucius  Bolles,  Salem,  Essex  county. 
768  Benjamin  Hastings,  Westrield,Ham.  CO, 
4550  Nathan  Waterman,  Providence,  R.  I, 
1395  Richard  Knight,  Cranston,  Plymouth,  co, 
3215  Jonathan  Goodivin, Mansfield.  Winclh. co, 
1421  Asa  Wilco.v,  Lyme,  New  London  co, 
21 '6  Elisha  Cushtnan,  Hartford,  Connecticut 
2029  William  Parkinson,  New  York  city 
1493  '.Aaron  Perkins,  Near  Poughkeepsie, 
\85itCaleb  Douglass,  Whitestown,  Oneida  co, 
719 
1378 
'.010 
42<s 
2264 
74 
3434 


3019 
22  2l!l59 
11  ll| 
26  15 
20  13 
10  11 
15  14 
18  18 
16i  7 


51   5 


N.  C 

N.  C 
N.  C 
S.  C. 
S.  C. 
S.  C. 

s.  c. 

S.  C 
S.  C 

Geo. 
Geo. 


5|  46 
Md.    114    7'  22 
Md.   1 1920  146 
Va.     |38  15'157 
Va.    (2110 
Va.    |4330 
Va. 
Va. 
Va. 
Va. 
Va. 
Va. 
Va. 
Va. 
Va. 
Va. 
Va. 
Va. 
Va. 
Va. 
Va. 

C 
N.  C. 
N.  C 
N.  C. 
N.  C 
N.  C. 
N.  C 
N.  C. 
N.  C 


1414 

31;16 

18  10 
11  5 
221  6 
14  12 
28  14 
23:15 
Hill 
18  10 
15,12 


3  Wed.  17  Sep.  10  A.  M. 
Wed.aft-4  W.  Sep.  1  Oct. 
2  Wed.  11  June  10  A.  M. 

2  Wed.  10  Sep.  10  A.  M. 

3  Wed.  15  Oct,  1  P.  M. 
1  Wed.  4  June  10  A.  M, 
Last  Wed.  24  Sep.  1  P.M 
1  Wed.  1  Oct.  10  A.  M, 
Last  Wed.27  Aug.10  A.M. 
3  Wed.  17  Sep.  1  P.  M. 
3  Wed.  1 8  June  1  P.  M. 

Wednesday  8  October. 
LastWed.27Aug.10  \.M. 
3  Wed.  17  Sep.  10  A.  M. 
l  Wed.  3  Sep.  10  A.  M 
Tues.  aft.  1  Wed.  9  Sep. 
Frid.  bef.  2  Sab.  5  Sep. 
3  Tues.  ,.l  Oct.  10  A.  M, 
Wed.  aft.  3  Sab.  18  June. 
1  Wed.  1  Oct.  iO  A.  M. 
Last  Wed.  28  May  2  P.M. 
1  Wed.  4  June  2  -\  M. 
1  Wed.  3  Sep.  10  A.  M, 
1  Wed.  1  Oct.  10  A.  M, 


Thomas  Smiley,  White  Deer,  Col.  co.  Pa, 

Hiland  Hill,  Catskill,  Green  county.]2  Wednesday  8  October, 
Etkanah  Comstock,  Owasco,  Cayuga  co.  3  Wed.  17  September, 
Ely  Stone,  Jay,  Essex  couuty,  N.  York.  3  Wednesday  150ctober, 
Edward  Barber,  Greenwich,  Wash.  co.iLast  Wednesday  25  June, 
Emory  Osgood,  Napies  in  Hender.  Jef.co.  2  Wednesday  11  June. 
John  Perk,  Cazenovia,  Madison  county.J2  Wed.  10  Sep.  10  A.  M. 
Jehiel  Pox,   Chester,    Warren    county.lSat.  bef.  3  Sab.  20  Sep. 

79Q  Job    Foss,     Dover,     Dutchess     county.il  Wed.  3  Sep.  10   A.  M.|2eh.Mirybrk  Danb.Ct. 
1794  John  Bosttvick,  Haitwicl. .  Otsego  countv.|3  Wed  18  June  10  A.  M.  Coventry,  New  Y  >rk. 

495[joy  Handy.  Pomfret,  Chataua-ue  county  .{Last  Wed.27  Aug.10  A.M.'Hanover,  New    York, 


Minutes  not  received. 
Minutes  not  received. 
Bath,  Lincoln  comity. 
Sanford,  York  co.  Me. 
Rumney,  New  Hamp. 
Dublin,  N  -.  H:.mp. 
Stephentown.  N  Y. 
Mountholiy.  Vermont. 
Minutes  not  received. 
( '.eorgia,  Frank.  eo.Vt. 
Minutes  not  reechoed, 
A.Hale-s,Beth  eh.X.H. 
Minutes  not  received, 
Charlton,  Wort  est.  co.- 
Darners,  Esse\  coun. 
Russel,  Massachusetts} 
Boston  Massachusetts. 
Minutes  not  received. 
Waterford,Conneetic. 
Wiekf.  c.  N.  Kingston. 
vVeathersf.near  Hartfl 
IstB.ch.city  of  N.York. 
Deer  Park,  I  range  co. 
Whitesboro.Ontid.  co, 
Burling.Otseg.eo.N.Y 
Schohame,  N.  M.  H, 
1st  ch.  in  Cami.ius, 
Jay,  Esses  co.  N.  Y, 
M.H.of2cb.in<  ia  way, 
Lorrain,  Jefferson  co. 
North  Norwich,  N.  Y, 
Chester,    Warren   co, 


&9<Jonathnn  Paine,  Gouvemeur.St.  Law.co.  3  Wednes.  15   January, 

20l2\Solomon    GooJale,    Bristol,   Ontario  co.  4  Wed.  24  Sep.  10  A.  ',, 

988|LeiW.y  Leonard,  PougU<eensie,Duteh.  co.  Last  Wed.  27  Aug.  A.  M, 

l941\Joseph  Sheppard,  Salem,  Salem  county.  1  Tues.  2  Sep.  2  P.  M. 

3095 -Silas  Ho'igh,  Montgomery, Pennsylvania.  1  Tues.  7  Oct.  2  P.  M. 

1139'.  James  Estep,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Westniore.  co.  1  Thus.  2  Sep.  2  I'.  M, 

283].Mn  Miller,  <\hington,  Luzeme  county.  1  Wednes.  3  September, 

570]  Daniel  Dodge,  Wilmington,  N.  Castle  co.  Sat.   bef.    1   Sab.   June. 

4W\S/ey>ens  Woo/ford,  jr.  Fishing  Creek,  D.co.  Sat.  bef.  4  Sab.  25  Oct. 

l016\S'iencer  H.  Cone!.  Alexandria,  Dis.  Cola.  Thur.  bef. 2  Sab.  11  Sep. 

2520\Thornton  Stringfetlmv,  Fauquier  county.  Thur.  bef.  3  Sab.  14Aug. 

\John  S.  Lee,  Lynchburg,  Campbell  co.|T/ie  minutes  oj'  this  as- 

\john  Bryce,  Richmond,  Henrico  county.  2  Saturday   11  October. 

\Benjamin    Watkins,   Powhatan   county.  2  Saturday    11  October 

fe849yo/ni/ipnA'/'jM,uearGrastv'ssto.Pittsyl.co.iSat.  before   2  Sab.  May 

2200\james  Mitchell,  Norfolk,' Norfolk county.  Sat.  bef.  4  Sab.  24  May. 

[Martin  Dawson, near  Warren,  Aibem.co.j2  Saturday   11  October. 

lAbsalom    Waller,   Spotsylvania  county.|l  Saturday 6  September. 

1628lRichardI.Tutt,Esq.Culpeppercounty.!Frid.  bef.  1  Sat.  5  Sep. 

349/oAn  Black,  near  Newbern,  Montgp. co.jSecond  Sat.  11  October. 

\Bmj,Fe7vel,  Rockinrham  county,  N.  C.iFrid.  bef.  2  Sab.  5  June. 

\Richard   Dahhs,  Oakhill,   Chaifttte  co.,2   Saturday     9    August 

600 Joseph   Saunders,    Brunswick   countv.'Sat.   bef.    4   S-.b.  April 

\j.  Carney,  Buchanan,  Harrison  eoumv.'77/r  minutes  of  this  as.so- 

ItfyJosiah  Osborne.  Lew  isbttrg.  Green  B.  co.Frid.  bef.  2  Sab.  12  Sep, 

728jWi:liam  Costin,    Lower    Nnrthamnton.lSat,  bef.  3  Sab.  16  Aug. 

1  Elijah  <iillingwaters,n.A!)ington,W.  co.:2  Friday  12  September. 


2^4'J-ihn  Young,   near,  Greenupsbure,  Ky. 

704\Robert  T.  Danniel, near  Pittsbo.  Chat.  co. 

18.54 YBenneit  Barrow,  Tarboro.  Edgecombco. 

Thomas  w  right,  Esq.  Hampton ville.S.co. 

4Ah0ft2' Elisha  Battle,  near  Oxford,  Granville  co. 

1040J  Wm.  P.Biddlr,  near  Newbern,  Craven  co. 

754|Richaid  Williams,    Ashe  countv,  N.  C. 

S8|1346ChaTlesM<Allister,Esq.nearFayetteville 

1820  George  Outlaw,  Esq. Windsor,  Bertie  co 

1031  Ceo.  Roberts,  Brown's  store,  Caswell  co, 

871  John  Purifoy,  nearcross  roads,  Wakeco. 

598  James   Whitaker,   F>sq.   BuneomV-  co. 

6^7  John  Culpepper,  Allentown,  Montgo.  co. 

38'25|203|3472  Wood  Ftiruian,  Esq.  Charleston,'  S.  C, 

69  2159  Snmnel  M'Creary,  Beckamsv.  Cites.  DIs. 

|1519  Wm.Lancaster,Esq.Mt.ABtrea,Spar.Dis. 

27|1228  Jnmej  Crowther,  Abbeville  District,  S.  C. 

54  2625  Joseph  King,    Edgefield   District,    S.  C. 

George   Pope,    Chester     District,    S.  C, 

56  3056  Jesse  Mercer,  Grantsville,  Green  county, 

5oliP27  Charles  I.  Jeiikins,Esq.  near  Louisville 


36  29 
26118 
27J14 
42,20 

35l24 
l!l9 


Frid.  bef.  4  Sab.  22  Aug. 
4  Saturday  25  October. 
Sat.  bef.  'l  S:ib.  4  Oct. 
First  Sat.  4  October. 
Sat.  bef.  3  Sab.  18  Oct. 
Day  bef.  3  Sab.  1H  Oct. 
4  Saturday  23  August, 
Sat.  bef.  1  Sab.  4  Oct, 
Sat.  bef.  2  Sab.  10  May, 
3  Saturday  16  August, 
Sat.  bef.  2  Sab.  8  Nov, 
Dav  bef.  4  Sab.  23  Aug. 
Sat",  bef.  3  Sab.  18  Oct. 
Sat.  bef.  1  Sab.  1  Nov. 
Day  bef.  l  Sab.  4  Oct, 
Frid.  bef.  3  Sab.  17  Oct. 
Sat.  bef.  2  Sab.  9  Aug, 
Sat.  bef.  3  Sab.  20  Sep 
The  minutes  of  this  asso^ 
Sat.  bef.  2  Sab.  11  Oct, 
Sat.  bef.  4  Sab.  27  Sep, 


Hopkimon,  St.  Lawn 
Palmyra,  Ontario  co. 
Troy,  Rensselser  co. 
Ch.atTn.  mm, ■<:  Lamb. 
Soutnamp.  Becks  co. 
Peters Crk. Was!  ;ii.co. 
Pa  t.iyra,  Wayne,  co. 
Brynzion,  D.  a  \are. 
Little  Creek,  Maryl. 
SideiingHi'.,Bed.co.P. 
N.Fork,M.h.Loud.co. 
sociation  not  received. 
Upper  K.&QueenM.h. 
Po\  liatanM.h.t'ow.i'o. 
Minutes  not  received. 
Black  Creek  M.  h. 
Minutes  not  received, 
Zion  ch.  Orange  co. 
Minutes  not  reieived. 
Minutes  not  reieived- 
Minutes  not  received, 
Stanton  riv.Char  o.co. 
Keedyerk  Brunsw.co. 
elation  not  received. 
Green  Bri.ch  Gr.Br.ci 
Minutes  nut  received. 
Mimites  not  received. 
Minutes  not  received. 
BearCrk.m.h.Chat.  co. 
Falls  of  Tar  river. 
Zion  Hill,  Wilkes  co. 
H.Carmel,Orange  co. 
Minuets  not  received. 
N.F.N.River,Asheco. 
Pitt.  m.h.Robinson  co. 
l'otecasy,Northam.co. 
Minutes  not  received. 
Wake  Cross  Roads- 
LocustOidfield,Ha.eo. 
Cedar  Crk.  Anson  co. 
Hopeweil.FairfieldDi. 
Hopewell, Chester  Dis- 
Minutes  not  received. 
TurkeyCrk.Ablxv.D. 
Providence,  Abbev.D. 
elation  not  receivetb 
Ro.Spring,Lincoln  co« 
Popl. Spring,  Wash.co. 


147 
TABLE  OF  ASSOCIATIONS. 


Names 
Of  the 

Associations. 


99 
100 
101 
102 
10: 
104 

105 

10S 
107 
108 

1 09 
110 
111 
113 

Ji- 
ll! 

i.i5 

lift 

11  V 
118 
119 
ISO 

121 

122 


84  Sarepta, 

Sivannah  River, 

Ocmulgee, 

Eben<  zer, 

Piedmont, 

Mississippi, 

Fiint  River, 

Bigby, 

Holston, 

Tennessee, 

Cumberland, 

Red  River, 

E!k  River, 

Concord, 

Camy  Fork, 

Eikhorn, 

Saiem, 

South  Kentucky, 

Tates  Creek, 

Bracken, 

i  River, 
North  Bend, 
North  District, 
South  District, 
Long  Run, 


Russel's  Creek, 

Stockton's  Vaile 


Emancipating, 
Licking-, 


ley. 


Ga. 
Ga. 
Ga. 
Ga. 
Ga. 
M.T. 

m.  r, 

M.T, 
Te. 
Te. 
Te. 

Te. 
Te. 
Te. 
Te. 
K). 

Ky. 
,Ky. 

Ky. 
Ky. 
Ky. 
Ky. 
K>'. 

Ky. 
Ky- 

hy- 


Cumberland  Riv. 

Gasper  River, 

Little  River, 

Burning  Spring, 

Union. 

Franklin, 

Uiiion-iO(rf/i, 

Miami, 

Scioto, 

Beaver, 

Straight  Creek. 

Muskingum, 

Mad  River. 

Little  Miami, 
127|Wahash, 
I28|White  Water, 
Egteilvt  r  Creek, 
ISO  Biue  River, 
131  Illinois, 
I53JSab.  Gen.  Confer. 


40  2.1 
19 


Ky. 
Ky. 

Ky. 
Ky. 

-:" 

Ky. 

Ohio.  23'14|100  1083 
Ohio.  11!  4.  44  403 
Ohio.  IS  111  71    659 


3l!2') 
1110 


a  el 


Corresponding  Secretaries,  Standing 
Secretaries,  Cierks,  and  Correspond- 
ents. 


Ohio. 

Ohio. 

Ohio. 

Ohio. 

la. 

la. 

la. 

la. 

M.T 


42  2899  Isham  Goss,  Ogelthorpe  county  Geo. 
233  5720\Thomas  S.  Winn,  Riceboro,  Liberty  Co. 
71  265l,Francin  Flournoy,  Madison,  Morgan  eo. 
26,  081  Ezekiel  Taylor,  Esq.  nr.  Hart.  Puias.  co. 
\Thoma?  S.  Winn,  Riceboro,  Liberty  co. 
561144  William  Snodgrass, Esq.  Natchez,  M.T. 
14;1179  Willis  Hopwood,m.  Shelbyv.  Bed. co.  Te. 

:  118\Jacob  Parker,    Wayne   county,    M.  T. 

I  810\funathan  Mulkey,  Washington  county 
57 MZ^t  West  ?JWfer,nr.Knoxvilie,Knox  county. 
39  2008lGarner  M'Cvimico,      near      Franklin. 

32  lOGl'jSn^g  Fort,  Port  Royal,  Montgomery  co, 
104  ir>06'Jeremiah  Bi/rnes,  Jefferson  county,  Te. 

85  2i83|Robert  C.  Foster,  Esq.  near  Nashville. 

24   444',Christopher     Swindle,      near      Sparta. 

44  2f\93' Silas  M.  Noel,  Oakley,  Franklin  county. 
425  180'l|Jos.  Lewis  Esq.  Bardstown,  Nelson  eo. 
116 l(>2\\Thomas   J.    Cliilton,    Wayne     county. 

63  1225jWi!liain  Goodloe,  Esq.  near  Richmond. 

15    ySilWalter   Warder*    Mayslick,    Mason  co. 

20  1143  Michael  W<  Hall,  Esq.    near   Glasgow. 

23   SOSlAbsalum  Graves,  Bullitsburg,  Boone  co. 

47  131  1  [James  Mason,  Esq.   near  Mt.  Sterling. 

2i  1123  Gabriel  S laughter,  Esq.  Mercer  county. 
175  2630|Gjor/je  Waller,  near  Shelbyvilie,  S.  co. 
130 102oiJohn   Chandler,    Green    county,     Ken. 

12  635  William  Wood,  Esq.  Stockton's  Valley. 
\David  Barrow,   near  Mount  Sterling.1 

20  8Q5\Ambrose  Dudley,  Bryan  Sta. Fayette  Co.; 
8    765iThomas    "aschai,  Somerset,  Puiaski  co; 

23  105  i'Edward  Collins,  nr.  Russel.  Logan  co. 

30  l013\Thomas  Ross,  nr.  Dover,  Stuart  county. 

33  375  Samuel  Hanna,  Buf.  Shoal,  Floyd  co. 
20   340  Aeheiaus  Vanhook,  Cynthiana,  Har.  co. 

3  694'Jo/in  Scott,  Port  V,  illiam,  Galiatin  co. 
254  Peter  EngJe,  Esq.  Barbourvi!].  Knox  co, 
John  Mason,  Sugar  Creek,  Warren  eo. 
Samuel  Comer,  New  Lancaster,  Fairf.co. 
A-arkih  Hanks,  N.  Lisbon,  Coluinb.  co. 
Thomas  El; rod,  nr.  W.  Union,  Adai 


Times  of  Meetings 
of  the 
Associations.        18 


6    4         i   103 

18   8124   f,<\7- Jacob   Drake,  Delaware,    Delaware  cc, 
14  14J 

8  4 

11  8|  18 
18J12!  74 
2429  27 
14|l5J 

9  5 


USAJlOilll 


366'John  Thomas,  Urbanna,  Champaign  co. 
347'James  done.;,  Iiicliim  Hill,  Hamilton  co. 
324\lsaac  M'Coy,  Maria,  Knox  county. 
9'iMEzra  Ferris,  LawrencebuFg,  Dear.  co. 
682  .Rice  M'Coy,  Charleston,  Clark  county. 
470JJnmes  M'Poy,  Esq.  nr.  Salem,  Wash.  co. 
216  John  M.  Peck,  James  E.  Welch,  St.  Louis. 
1934,  Wiiliam  Stiiiman,  Hopkinton,  R.  Island. 


Sat.  bef.  4  Sab.  25  Oct. 
Sat.  bef.  4  Sab.  25  Oct. 
Sat.  bef.  1  Sab.  6  Sep, 
Sat.  bef.  2  Sab.  13  Sep. 
The  minutes  of  this  as- 
Sat.  bef.  3  Sab.  18  Oct, 
Sat.  bef.  1  Sab.  4  Oct. 
Sat.  bef.  1  Sab.  4  Oct, 
Second  Frid.  8  August, 
1  Saturday  4  October. 
Sat.  bef.  3  Sab.  20  Sep. 
Sat.  bef.  2  Sab.  9  Aug. 
?  Sat.  20  September. 
Sat.  bef.  1  Sab.  2  Aug. 
'  Sat.  27  September. 
Saturday  9  August 
Last  Frid.  26  September 
4  Saturday  23  August, 
4   Saturday  23  August. 

1  Saturday  2  September. 
Frid.  bef.  4  Sab.  25  July. 
'    Frid.   26    .eptember. 

Saturday     26    July. 

3   Saturday  16  August. 

Friday   1   September. 

Sat.    20    September. 

3  Saturday   16    August. 

Sat.  bef.  1  Sab.   6    Sep. 

2  Sat.  13  September. 
Frid.  bef.  1  Sab.  5  Sep. 
Sat.  bef.  4  Sab.  23  Aug. 
Sat.  bef.  3  Sab.  16  Aug. 
1   Saturday   4  Octobet. 

3  Sa.    20    September. 

3  Sat.  20  September 
Frid.  bef.  4  Sab.  26  Sep 
Sat.  bef.  2  Sab.  13  Sep. 
Sat.  bef.  4  Sab.  27  Sep. 
Thur.  bef.  4  Sab. 21  Aug. 
Frid.  bef.  4  Sab.  22  Aug. 
Thtir.bef.4Sab.21  Aug. 
Frid.  bef.  3  Sab.  19  Sep, 
No  minutes  of  this  as- 
Sat.  bef.  1  Sal).  4  Oct. 
Frid.  bef.  2  Sat.  8  Aug. 

4  Saturday   23    August. 

Sat.  27  September. 
The  minutes  of  this  as- 
Thur.  bef.  2  Sab.  11  Sep. 


Places  of  Meetings. 

of  the 
17.    Associations. 


Millstone,  Ogleth.  co. 
Newingt.ch.Scriven  c. 
Elim,  Jones  county. , 
Woods  M.h.Twiggs  co. 
sociation  not  received. 
Boguechitto  Church. 
Limestone,  Madis.  co. 
Bassetts  crk.Ciarkco. 
Richards.crk.Hawk.c. 
Hikory  crk.  Knox  co. 
Richland,  Davidson  c. 
Half  Pone,  Robert,  co. 
Big  Flat  Creek. 
Hiekm.  crk.  Smith  co. 
Sinking  crk.  White  co. 
Hillsboro,  Woodf.  co. 
Mill  creek,  Nelson  co.  I 
Liberty,  Cumberl.  co. 
Bogg'sFork,  Fayetco. 
Wilsoii'sRun,Kentue. 
Sinking  crk.Warrenc.  • 
Bullitsburg,  Boon  eo. 
Bald  Eagle,  Bath  co. 
Salt  River,  Mercer  co.  ' 
Harrods  crk.Jeffers.  c. 
Good  Hope,  Green  co.  • 
Mill  creek,  Barren  on. 
•>t.Sterling,Montg.co. 
Town  Fork,  Fayet.eo. 
Town  Frk.  Wayne  co. 
SmithGrove,  Warr.co, 
Dry  Fork,  Caldwell  cob 
Stone  Coal,  Floyd  en. 
Union  ch.  Harrison  co. 
Hopeweli,  Woodf.  co. 
Poplar  Crk.  Knox  co. 
W.Frk.  M.crk.  Ham.B 
Pleas.Run.Fairfied  c 
Sharon,  Mercer  co.Pa 

P.ed  OaU, county 

Wayne,  Knox  county.* 
Minutes  not  received 
sociation  yet  printed 
Bethel  M.h.Posi  y  CO 
CedarGrove,  Frank.c 
Mount  Pleasant  M.  It  ' 
Salem  M.h.Han  ison  c 
sociation  not  received 
Minutes  not  received  '  ■ 


132  Associations— 2064  churches— 1893  Ministers— 9872  Baptised— 165,201  Total  number,  as  per  the  foregoing  columns. 

In  129  Associations  there  are  2664  Churches.  Allowing  the  same  average  number  to  each  of  the  other  three  associa* 
turns.  «i'!  make  the  whole  number  of  churches,  two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty-seven.  In  2664  churches  are  1893  preach; 
ers,  including  ordained  and  unordain.d  ministers,  '1  'lie  same  proportion  to  the  other  63  churches  will  make  the  whole  mini 
ber  of  preachers  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  thirty-Jive.  On  the  minutes  of  several  of  the  association  ministers  are  not  dis., 
tinguished;  so  that  tliis  estimate  is  deficient.  In  cases  in  which  ilius*  baptised  in  the  course  of  rhe  year  are  not  distinguishei", 
from  ihose  received  by  Inter,  four  fifths  of  the  number  added  are  set  down  in  the  column  of  the  baptised;  and  it  appeal 
that  in  96  associations  there  have  been  baptised  ihe  past  year  nine  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-hvo.  How  many  in  th'" 
other  36  associations  can  hot  be  sta'ed.  In  119  associations,  by  the  minutes  of  last  year,  and  taking  the  number  of  the  jea 
preciding  in  those  eases  in  which  the  minutes  of  last  year  have  not  been  received;,  it  appears  there  are  165,201  membern 
The  same  average  proportion  allowed  the  other  thirteen  associations,  will  exhibit  the  whole  number  of  members  at  one  /iu»C 
tired  eighty-three  thousand  two  hundred  and  forty-Jive. 


Number  of  Churches, 
Number  of  Ministers, 

er  Baptised  last  year,  at  least, 
Number  of  Members  in  fellowship, 


2727 
1935 

1000O 
18324a 


MONIES  RECEIVED  BY  THE  AGENT  SUBSEQUENTLY  TO  THE  2$th  OI< 
JUNE   1816,  AND  ONWARD  TO  THE   10th  OF  MAY  1817. 

July  21  By  collection  at  Bloeklcy,  near  Philadelphia,  Philadelphia  county,  Pennsylvania 

23  By  the  hand  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Roberts,  Great  Valley,  Pennsylvania  from  Mrs.  Cornog,./'""  translation, 

August  5  By  the  hand  of  Elder  Gardner,  per  col.  at  the  N.  C.  Gen.  Meeting  of  Cor.  Tanners  m.  h.  Warren  co.  N.  C. 

5  By  the  same  from  blacks  5  15-ftom  ethers  2-1:  y  Miss  Brownrisg  3-R.H.  Jones.  Esq.5-.Tolinson  1- Wright  1 
J  J  By  collection  at  the  Appomattox  association,  Appomattox  m.  h.  Prince  Edward  county,  Virginia 


D.  (' 

11  5 
S  C 

126  f. 

ir  j 

123  S  • 


Amount  carried  up 


148 

D.    «. 

Amourtt  brought  up        -------  ■.     ---  284  60 

12  Hy  El.  Saunders  1-ofEl.Dabbs  2-ofEld.  Garrett  1-of  Price  2-ofVenable  fr.twobojm  75-alady25-other  25  7  25 

12  By  Joel  Watkins,  at  the  Appomattox  association,  Prince  Edward  county  Virginia, /terjona/     -           -  10  00 

18  By  col.  C.  Line  asso.  63  62-blacks  fiQcts.-anotber  person  l-30rt».  personal;  Graves  m.  h.  Caswell  co.  N.  C.  65  61 

19  By  Mr.  Graves,  to  be  added  to  the  collection  taken  yesterday  at  the  association  at  Graves  meeting  house  50 

20  By  the  hand  of  E'der  Benjamin  Fewel,  Rockingham  eouuty,  N.  C.  from  various  individual              -  53  50 

25  By  E'der  Isaac  Garrison  I— by  Jesse  Moore  jr.  1— by  Wm.  Pennly  25cts.— Globe  m.  h.  Burk  county  N.  C.  2  25 
31  By  Shiloh  association.  Battle  Hun  m.  h.  Culpepper  county  Va.  for  a  parcel  of  the  Second  Annual  Reports  6  50 

1  By  collection  71  90— blacks  1  90— Oliver  Welch,  10-5 personal,— Shi'oh  association  Cutpeoper  Virginia  83  80 

8  By  collection.  Green  Brier  association,  Mann's  meeting  house,  Indian  Creek,  Monroe  county,  Virginia  23  44 

15  Bycollection  17  94-afterby  the  hand  of  Maj.  Mason  50cts.-North  District  association,  Montgomery  co.  Ken.  18  44 

28  By  collection  at  the  Union  association  assembled  at  Concord  meeting  house,  Knox  county,  Kentucky  9  85 

6  Bycollection,  Flint  River  association  Liberty  m.h.  13  62-do.  Shelby  ville,  10  44  Bedford  county,  Tennessee  33  Oft 
IS  By  collection,  Tennessee  asso.  26  50— by  Joseph  Holloway  50cts.  Miller's  Cove,  Blount  county,  Tennessee  27  00 
18  Bycollection,  Broad  River  asso.  27  13— Elder  Holeomhe  from  Union  church  3  50  Rutherford,  co.  N.  C  30  63 

18  By  hand  of  El. Hicks,  per  Mt.  asso.inc.the  bef.men.from  El.  G.  1-20  25-himself,/je;M  01-Ei. Coffee,  50cts.  N.  C.  21  76 

21  By  collection.  Pee  Dee  asso.  41—2  19  of  which  by  the  blacks,  8t  25cts.  from  a  Mack,  Montgomery  county  N.  C.  41  25 

22  By  the  hand  of  Elder  Daniel  Gould,  for  preaching  at  Mr.  May's,  a  funeral  occasion,  Anson  county  N.  C.  10  00 
24  By  collection  after  preaching  in  Ingrahim's  meeting  house,  Anson  county  North  Carolina         -           -  15  24 

27  By  collection,  Sandy  Creek  asso.  24  1 1— Br.  Bray  from  Bear  crk.  church  1— Br.  Bostick  4-Randh.  N.  C.  2°  11 

28  By  Bryan  Boroughs,  1— William  Brav  20cts,  at  Sandy  creek  association  Randolph  county, North  Carolina  1  20 

30  By  Br.  McNeill  1— Thomas  13'c.s.— John  10— Daniel  10— Sally  12— Lydia  6— Lucy6— Polly  6-Moereco.  N.C.  1  63 

10  By  collection  at  the  Ebenezer  association,  Mount  Horeb  meeting  house  "ulaski  county,  Georgia          •  47  5ft 

11  By  John  Denson  25cts.— Robert  Glenn,  Esq.  10— Sylvan,  Twiggs  county,  Georgia  •  -  -  10  25 
15  By  Francis  Boykin,  living  near  Mil'edgeville,  Baldwin  county,  state  of  Georgia  :6  00 
17  By  collection,  State  House  214  23— after  bv  hand  Esq.  Rabun  1  50— br.  Rana'dson  2  25  Mille.  Georgia  217  98 
IS  By  Mrs.  Carter  50  dollars— hand  of  Mr.  M' Donald  6— Mrs.  M'D.  2— Miss  M'D.  3— Mr.  Crosby  2— Georgia  63  00 

26  By  the  hand  of  the  Rev.  Charles  O.  Scriven,  from  the  Ladies,  personal,  Sunbury,  Lib.  county,  Georgia  24  50 

27  By  the  hand  of  the  Rev.Mr.  Sweet,  from  Mrs.  Sweet,  per.  20— Geo.  D.  Sweet  jr.  5— Sweet  Hill,  Bryan  co.  Ga.  25  00 
27  By  Martha  L.  Barnard,  Treasurer  of  the  Young  Ladies  Cent  Society,  Sweet  Hill,  Bryan  county,  Georgia  11  38 
2-i  Bycollection  in  the  Baptist  meeting  house  -0S  67— Mr.  Carr  2— a  Lady  1— Savannah",  Georgia           -  111  67 

29  By  Mrs.  Dunning,  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  the  translation  of  the  Bible— Savannah,  Georgia           -  20  00 

30  By  Elder  James  Sweat,  towards  a  fund  for  the  support  of  a  Secretary  of  the  mission,  Beaufort  Dis.  S.  C.  3  00 
1  By  Eld.  Isaac  Nichols  10— collection  in  Euhaw  m.  h.  9  69— Mrs.  Hew  aid  5— Beaufort  District  South  C.  2  4  69 

1  By  Eld.  I.  Nichois,/ur  the  Seeretanfs  fund,  5— Dr.  North  from  Mrs.  North  do.  5— near  Coosawhatchie,  S.  C.  10  00 

2  By  brother  Thomas  Fuller,  a  personal  favour,  Sheldon.  Beaufort  District,  South  Carolina        -            -  5  00 

3  By  collection  after  preaching  in  the  Baptist  meeting  house,  Beaufort,  South  Carolina.           -           -  35  00 

7  By  letter  from  Josiah  Penfield,  additional  to  the  collection  taken  in  Savannah,  28th  ult.             -           -  21  00 

8  By  Dea.  Adams,  personal,  5 — Sec.fund  10— Miss  Adams  do.  10—  Mrs.  Lawrence  do.  10,  Charleston,  South  C.  35  00 

9  By  Mr.  Napier,  a  presbyterian,  towards  the  fund  for  supporting  a  mission  secretary,  Charleston,  South  C.  30  00 
11  By  Mrs.  Wallace,  for  assisting  the  fund  for  the  subpart  hie  of  a  secretary,  St.  Peters  Parish,  South  Carolina  5  00 

15  By  eol.  Hopeful  m.h.  35  12-T!iomas  Byne,  Personal,  \0-Sec.  fund,  10-for  parcel  of  Report  3  50-Burke  co.  Ga.  58  62 
17  By  collection,  Warrenton,  20  75- do.  Sparta,  17  44— bv  Hiiffh  Taylor.  Esq.  10— Sparta,  Hancock  co.  Ga.  48  19 

19  By  David  Crenshaw  Barrow,  personal,  5— bv  Tom,  David,&  Joseph,  of  Esq.Barrow,  1  each,  Baldwin  co.  Ga.  8  00 

20  By  James  Barrow  Esqr.  additional  to  the  co'llec.  in  Mille.  10—  Alex.  M'Donald  2—  Beulah,  Baldwin  co.  Ga.  12  00 

22  By  col.  Popes  m.  h.  71-J.  Ballard  5-J.  Pope  1-A.  Davis  10  Sec.  fund-Miss  D.  5- Mrs.  Milnor  5- Jones  co.  Ga.  97  00 

23  By  Carey  Cox,  towardt  the  fund  fur  supporting  a  mission  secre'aru,  Putnam  county,  Georgia         -            -  3  00 

24  By  collection  after  preaching  in  the  court  house,  Eatonton,  Putnam  county,  Georgia       -           -            -  54  12 

25  By  collection  in  the  court  house  20— afterwards  1  50— Greensboro,  Green  county,  Georgia          -           -  21  50 

26  By  collection  after  preaching  in  the  Baptist  meeting  house,  Shi'ob.  Green  county,  Georgia        -            -  50  06 

27  By  collection  co.  Line  21  75— Polly  Comers,  Rebecca.  Patsev,  Nancy  50cts.  each.  Oglethorpe  co.  Geo.  23  75 
29  Bycollection  after  preaching  in  the  Baptist  meeting  house,  Sardis,  Wilkes  county,  Georgia             -  48  63 

31  By  col.  Clarks  sta.  30  19— from  Mrs.  Winn,  personal  25cts.— W.  Jackson  2— J.  Mathers  1— Wilkes  co.  Geo.  33  44 

1  By  collection  after  preaching  in  Fishing  Creek  meeting  house,  Wiikes  county,  Georgia.        -           -  38  37 

2  Bycollection  Washington  81  44— after  50cts.— Mr.  Gilbert,  sec.  fund  10— Wilkes  county,  Georgia        -  91  94 

3  By  collection  Baptist  meeting  house,  Philips'  Mill,  for  mission  purposes,  Wiikes  county,  Georgia    -  41  00 

4  By  Mr.  Gibson,  towards  a  fund  fr  the  Secretani,  E'mwood,  Wilkes  countv,  Georgia              -           -  5  00 

5  By  collection  109  3 1— afterwards'  2— Baptist  meeting.  Powelton.  Hancock  county,  Georgia     -           •  111  31 

7  By  collection  for  missions  in  Baptist  meeting  house.  Bethel.  Hancock  county,  Georgia          -           -  21  63 

8  By  collection  for  missions  Watley's  Mill,  Baptist  meeting  house,  Greene  county.  Georgia     -           -  31  50 

9  By  collection  for  missions,  in  the  Baptist  meeting  house.  Center,  Oglethorpe  county,  Georgia          -  30  12 

10  By  collection,  Lexington,  Ogle,  co  46-Miss  Grieve  2— hand  of  J.  L-.mkin  2  50-Mi!nor  1-Mrs.  Smith  1  per.  52  50 

11  By  Mrs.  Grieve,  for  the  Secretary  fund  10— Esq.  Cobb.  do.  5— Lexington,  Oglethorpe  county,  Georgia  15  00 

12  Bv  collection  after  preaching,  at' Clouds  Creek  meeting  house,  Oar'ethorpe  county,   Georgia            -  32  25 

13  By  collection,  Elbtvton  36  88— bv  hand  of  E'der  Thornton  50cts.  Oclethorpe  county,  Georgia  -  37  33 
17  By  the  Rev.  Lewis  Rector,  Rocks  Creek,  Greenville  District,  South  Carolina         "     -           -            -  2  00 

19  By  collection  for  missions,  after  preaching,  in  the  court  house,  Spartanburg  District,  South  Carolina  20  00 

4  By  Brother  Horatio  Chand'er,  personal.  Pitman  Creek,  Green  county,  Kentucky         -           -           -  1  00 

5  By  Brother  Briseo,  on  being  presented  with  a  copv  of  the  Report,  Mercer  county,  Kentucky  -  l  75 
9  By  collection,  Washington,  20  44— do.  May's  Lick  13  37- Mason  countv,  Kentucky        -            -            -  33  81 

16  By  collection.  Baptist  m.  h.  67— by  Gen.  Gano,  Treas.  of  Cinein.  Foreign  M.  Society  45-Cincinatti,Ohio  112  00 

17  By  Mrs.   Smith,  Treas.  Cinein.   Female  Mission  Society  60— do.  for  Report  3— Mrs.  Gofortb  J  personal  68  00 

18  By  collection  after  preaching  in  the  court  house,  Lawrenceburg,  Dearborn  county,  Indiana  -  6  00 
25  By  the  hand  of  Rev.  Silas  M.  Noel,  per  coltec.  at  Frankl.  as.  and  from  individ.  Oakley  Frankl.  co.  Ky.  69  00 

3  Ry  collection   in  Columbia   20  SO   Mrs.  Waggoner  1  — Miss  Waggoner  50cts.— Adair  county,   Kentucky  22  00 

4  By  donation  of  Robert  Cross,  Stocktons  Valley,  Cumberland  county,  Kentucky  -  -  -  1  00 
17  By  the  North  Carolina  Baptist  Society  for  Foreign   Missions,  Harmony  Hall,  Orange  countv,   N.  C.  300  00 

20  By  public  collection  for  missions  after  preaching  in  Oxford,  Granville  county.  North  Carolina          -  20  00 

21  By  the  Rev.  Elisha  Battle,  a  personal  favour.  Battle  Hall,  Granville  county.  North  Carolina  -  2  00 
27  By  Mrs.  Clay,  Chesterfield  county,  Virginia  50cts.— by  sale  of  annual  Reports,  2  65  8tc.            -            -  3  15 

31  By  the  Ladies  of  the  Richmond  Female  Baptist  Mission  Society,  personal,  Richmond,  Virginia  -  40  00 
1  By  Mrs.  Moreton,  Treasurer  of  the  Richmond  Female  Baptist  "Mission  Society,  Richmond,  Virginia  150  00 
1  By  Rev.  John  Bryce,  per  collection  at  Perkins  m.  h.  Goochland  county,  119  50— R.  M'Kim,  5  personal  124  50 
1  By  the  same  from  the  Rev.  John  Jenkins,  from  the  Roanoke  Baptist  Mission  Society,  Virginia  -  75  00 
9  By  Rev.  G.  C.  Sedwick,  Dumfries,  col.  by  Lucy  Grymes  &.  Jael  West  of  Chapawamsi'c  church,  Virginia  29  00 
9  By  the  same,  collected  by  Elizabeth  Kendall  8t  Nancy  Simms  of  Rock  Hill  church,  Stafford  county,  Va.  13  00 

By  the  same,  per  sale  of  Reports  10— By  Rev.  Benjamin  Scriven  of  Savannah,  Ga.  per  sale  of  Reports  7    17  00 

14  By  collection  after  the  evening  service  in  the  Baptist  meeting  house,  Baltimore,  Maryland.             -  23  04 

15  By  letter  from  Rev.  Win.  C.  Buck  of  Va.  collected  by  Elder  Monroe,  received  in  Philadelphia         -  30  oo 

Amount  carried  up--------       3622  21 


149 


D.    C. 

3622  21 


Amount  brought  up        ---'.-. 
Apr.    17  By  letter  from  Win.  Walker,  Esq.  Putnam  county,  Georgia,  personal, 

29  By  a  Lady  for  the  translation   50— liy  another  person   for  the    secretary's  fund  9  59  00 

May      7  By  Eld.  Mereerfr.a  Fern.  Praying  So.  Washing.  Wilkesco.Ga.  4-a  col.  worn.  1-F.  Aliens     10  00 
9  By  the  hand  of  Bev.Dr.Staughton  fr.  the  Louisiana  Soc.  for  Bapt.  Missions  For'n.  Domestic  110  0O 
By  letter  from  Rev.  Walter  Warder,  Maysiick,  Mason  co.  Ky.  per  sale  of  Report  10  00 

In  add.  to  what  has  been  given  for  the  sec. fund,  as  above  there  has  been  subscribed  by  one  &  paid  50  00 
By  Mrs.Barnwell50-Mrs.  Brantley  50  BeauPt.-Mr.InglesbyCharl'n.lO-EI.Hagood  10  S.C.  subscribed  120  00 
By  Charles  I.Jenkins  100-  William  Walker  sen.  5o-Mrs.  Talbot  5  Georgia-By  another  25subscribed  180  00 

Here  then  by  subscriptions  and  denations  towards  the  Secretary's  fund  is  the  sum  of       500  00 
For  the  translation  75— personal  presents  150  6cts.  -  -  -  -  -        225  06 

From  various  sources  for  the  common  objects  of  the  missionary  concern  -  -      3426  15 

Total  4161  21 

By  earefully  casting  the  preceding  accounts  and  comparing  them  with  those  of  the  Treasurer, 
it  appears  that  the  whole  sum  received  by  the  Agent  from  the  25th  of  June  1816,  to  the  9th  of 
May  1817,  including  subscriptions  for  the  Set  retar'/s  fund,  is  ....  416121 

That  of  this,  belonging  to  the  said  Secretary's  fund,  is  the  sum  of  500  00.  Of  personal  favours 
the  sum  of  150  06.  For  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures  75  oo.  Remittances  from  societies, 
paid  over  to  the  Treasurer  by  the  Agent  in  separate  items  771  31.  And  that  besides  he  has 
paid  over  to  the  Treasurer  including  the  75  00  for  translation  2835  11        ...  425648 

Having  overpaid  the  sum  of  95  27 


Expenditures  connected  with  the  Agency,  during  the  same  time 

To  stage  fare,  steam  boat  fare,  bridges,  ferries,  8cc.  -  -  -  140  92 

To  freight,  &c.  in  the  distribution  of  the  Report  -  -  -  22  62 

To  postage  36  dollars  55cts.— two  circulars  S5  dollars 

To  writing  paper,  wrapping  paper,  quil!s,  wafers,  twine,  &c.    - 

To  horse  hire,  horse  keeping,  feeding  on  the  road,  &c.  &c. 

I"o  the  common  unavoidable  expenses  of  travelling 

To  forty-six  weeks  service  to  the  7th  of  May  1817,  8  per  week 


14  41 

90  95 
219  72 
368  00—928  17 


Bafitist  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  for  the  U.  S.  in  account  current  with 


1816. 

June 
August 


JOHN  CAULDWELL,  their   Treasurer. 


23  To  cash  per  order  of  the  Board  for  travelling  expenses 

1  To  cash  per  order  of  the  Board  for  printing  Second  Annual  Report 
23  T0  cash  for  the  purchase  of  3000  6  per  cent  Stock 

To  Draft  for  India,  to  support  the  Missionaries  ... 

April    1817    3  To  cash  for  the  purchase  of  2000  6  per  cent  Stock  -  -  - 

To  loss  by  counterfeit  bills  ...... 

To  freight  and  distribution  of  Reports  .... 

To  postage,  &c.  ...... 

May  9  To  cash  per  order  to  pay  Mr.  Rice's  allowance,  expenees,  &c.      - 

10  To  balance  due  the  Board         ...... 


1816. 
June 

July 


September 
October 


CONTRA, 


Dr. 

D.    C. 

204  00 

53?  11 

2729  30 

2264  QO 

1984  90 

9  25 

3  03 

8  46 

928  ]7 

10051  6.? 

18715  85 

Cr. 


November 


December 
Jan.  1817. 


February 
Match 


21  Bv 

24  By 

3  By 
By 

11  Bv 
13  By 

By 
7  Bv 

25  By 

4  By 

12  By 
By 
Bv 
By 
By 
By 
By 

23  By 
By 

26  By 
21   By 

By 

5y 

£y 

4  By 
31   By 

2  By 

3  By 
By 

7  By 
3  By 


D. 

6174 

no 


balance  due  the  Board         -...--- 

Gen.  Joseph  Lewis,  from  the  Bardstown  aux.  Mission  Societv,  Kentucky 

half  a  years  Interest  on  Bank  Stock         - 

Quarter's  Interest  of  United  States  Stoct  - 

James  Wilson,  Esq.  from  the  Worcester  co.  aux.  Mission  Society,  Mass. 

Bev.  Edward  Barber,  Milton,  Saratoga  county.  New  York 

Thomas  Shields,  Ksq.  from  the  Mississippi  Baptist  Association 

Kev.  E.  Barber,  from  the  Catskill  Female  Mite  Societv,  Greenwich,  N.  Y. 

Asa  Runyan,  Esq.  from  the  New  York  Baptist  Association 

Mr.  Samuel  Shaw,  from  the  Sunbnry  aux.  Mission  Society,  Georgia 

Deacon  Hiland  Hill  from  the  Rensseliaerville  Association,  New  York 

Interest  of  United  States  Stock       ...... 

Rev.  Ch.  Sommers,  from  the  Female  Mission  Society  in  Trov,  N.  York 

Samuel  Eddy,  Esq.  from  the  Bai>tist  Missionary  Society  in  Rhode  Island 

the  same  from  the  Warren  Association,  Rhode  Is'and 

James  Loring,  Ksq.  from  the  Boston  Bap.  Foreign  Mission  Societv,  Mass. 

the  same  for  the  Translation  of  the  Bible,  8te. 

the  same  for  circulating  the  gospel  in  India         . 

the  same  for  Messrs.  Judson  and  Hough  in  Burmah 

Gen.  A.  Forbes  from  the  Union  Society  of  Vermt.  and  N.  H.  auxiliary,  &c. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Peck  per  collection  in  a  Presbyterian  m.  h.  Catskill,  N.  Y.     - 

Rev.  Solomon  Goodale  from  the  Ontario  association,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  E.  Huntington  from  Saratoga,  Washing.  Montgom.  aux.  Society,  N.  Y, 

Thomas  Shields  Esq.  from  the  Redstone   association,  Pennsylvania     - 

Mr.  Stuart  from  the  Northern  District  auxiliary  Missionary  Society,  N,  Y.    86 

Mr.  A.  Gregory  from  the  Stratfield  Con.  F.  M.  Society  -  -  39 

Mr.  C.  Shaw  from  the  Bristol  and  Newport  cos.  auxiliary  Mis.  Society,  R.  I.    45 

Interest  of  United  States  Stock        -  -  -  -  -  -  137 

Bank  Stock  Dividends  .......  10 

Mrs.  E.  Nash  from  the  Tol.  Fem.  Cent  Soc.  for  the  use  of  Dr.  Carey,  &c.  Ct.     17 
Rev.  E.  Cushman  from  the  Hartford  association,  Connecticut  -  45 


624 
40 
25 
10 

200 
13 
20 

110 

2rt4 


Amount  carried  up 


Mav 


150 

b.  ti. 

Amount  brought  up       -  '*"".*        90is  39 

MarcB            31  By  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gnod.oe  from  the  churches  Madison  county,  Virginia  65  62 

By  the  Kev.  Jehiel  Fo-.,  Warren,  New  Yoik            -          -          -          -  4  00 

By  the  Rev.  John  Bostwick,  Hartwick,  New  York              -            -            -  1  50 

By  tlie  Rev.  A.   Hanks,  New  Lisbon,  Ohio,  for  12  copies  of  Report"         -  4  50 

April                2  B<   the  Rev.  Jacob  Drake  from  the  Muskingum  association,  Ohio             -  20  00 

By  Interest  of  United  States  Stock        -            -            -            -            -            ■  1"  08 

By  L.  Pierce  Esq.  from  the  Plymouth  co.  auxil.  Missionary  Society,  Mass.  257  68 

By  the  same  for  translations        .......  IS  32 

18  By  Or.  Staughton  from  Franklin  Mission  Society,  New  York  -  -  60  34 
By  the  same  from  the  Miiford  Female  Mite  Society  -  -  -  6  43 
Bv  the  same  from  the  Green  River  air..  Mission  Society.  Kentucky  -  100  00 
By  W.  W,  Todd  Esq.  from  the  N.  Y.  Baptist  For'n.  and  Domes,  M.  Society,  N.  Y.    26  00 

19  By  William  Snodgrass  Esq,  from  the  Mississipi  association,  Mississippi  Territory  162  12 
-  By  R,  ,  1  ■  ilif-r  -;ie _  fioi  i  the  N'oith  Caro'iua  Society  !<ir  F.  Missions,  N.  C.  200  00 
24  By  Mr,   D.  H.  YKen  from  the  Frederick  eo.  Mission  Society,  Virginia  -  <>7  00 

By  Re.,   fotei  Bosrv  .....  Hartwick,  H.  Y.  from  a  Mission  Society             .  130  00 

By  Rev,  F..  Huntingto  .  from  the  B:...-e  association.  -Vermont        -           -  is  29 

Bv  Kev.  A.  Hanks  from  the  Beaver  association,  Ohio          -           -           -  4  50 

By  Richard  L   flirt  Esq.  foi   Reports              .....  75 

2*  By  Benjamin  Hastings  Esq.  from  the  Westfieid  association,  Massachusetts  15  90 

By  .Mis;  E.  Terry  from  the  Mite  Soeiety  West  Springfield,  Massachusetts  12  17 

By  Rer.  L.  R01  es  from  the  Sn;em  Bible  Trans,  and  F.  M.  Society,  Mass: .  100  00 

30  By  avails  of  ;i  :>air  of  ear-rings  from  Grutan  Union  Conference,  Connecticut  75 

1  By  Mrs.  E.  Witbu  gton  from  the  N.  Y.  Female  Foreign  Mission  Soe.  N.  Y.  200  00 
By  John  VVithington  Esq.  from  the  N.  Y.  B.>o.  For.  Mission  Society,  N.  Y. 

ino  tiding  fifty  dollars  from  the  Juvenil  ■  ass  slant  Mission  Society  333  85 

By  Dr.  Staughton  from  the  North  Carolina  Foreign  Mission  lociety,  N.  C.  500  00 

By  E.  Moore,  Esq.  from  the  Connecticut  au»i  iary  Mission  Society  Connecticut  300  00 

By  Rev,  I.  Peck  from  the  Madison  auxiliary  Foreign  Mission  Society,  N.  Y.  175  00 

By  J.  Loring  Esq.  from  the  Boston  Bap.  Foreign  Mission  Society,  Mass.  60O  00 

3  By  Rev.  Mr.  Pillsbury  from  the  .'•!       d.ih  Association,  New  Hampshire  75  00 

By  J.  Wilson  Esq.  from  the  New  York  Middle  Dis.  aux.  For.  Mis.  Soc;ety,  N.  Y.  100  00 

By  Mr.  C.  Shaw  i'r..\,  the  B  isio  and  Newport  cos.  auxil.  F.  Mis.  Society,  R.  I.  Il£j00 

By  David  Adam.  Esq    from  the  General  Com.  of  Charleston  association,  S.  C.  10 18  14 

6  By  Kev.  Wil  tarn  Warder  from  thf  Washington  KeDLtuck)  Mission  Society,  Ky.  10"  00 
By  the  same  from  the  Bardstown  auxil.  Foreign  Mission  Society,  Kentucky  110  00 
By  Rev.  Mr.  FarnsWorth,  Edenton,  North  Carolina  -  -  3  00 
By  the  same  rr  im  a  Lad)  -  -  -  ...  -  .  2  00 
By  Rev.  1.  Kodgen  from  the  Green  River  auxil.  Mission  Society,  Kentucky  100  00 

7  By  R  v.  J.  A.  Welch  from  the  Burlington  Female  Mite  Society,  N.  J  105  00 
By  fheoph.  Harris  Esq.  from  (he  American  Ban.  Mission  Soeiety,  Pennsylvania  100  00 
By  Rev.  Thomas  Roberts  from  the  Great  Valley  Female  Mite  Society,  Pennsyl.  HO  00 
By  R  v.  A.  M.  Lewis  from  th  Fredericksburg  Female  For.  Mission  Society,  Va.  100  00 
By  Rev.  J.  M.  Peck  from  sundry  persons  .....  3  00 
By  Mr.  Henry  Charles  from  the  Junior  Mission  Society,  Philadelphia  -  150  00 
By  Rev.  Jehiel  Fox  from  the  Lake  George  Conference,  New  York  -  8  12 
By  Rev.  E.  Ferris  from  the  White  Water  association,  Indiana  -  -  10  oo 
By  j,  M'Cuy,  Esq.  from  the  silver  Creek  association,  Indiana  -  -  7  00 
By  liev.  A.  Wilcox,  from  the  Groton  Union  Conference,  Connecticut      -  78  00 

3   ByjRev,  I.  Hea  y.  from  the  Baltimore  Mission  Society,   Mary  and                -  _  J00  00 
9   ►'.y  the  hand  of  Rev.  Luther  Rice  from  the  Louisiana  Mission  Society,  Louisiana   100  00 

By  the  same  from  the  Richmond  Female  Baptist  Misssion  Society,  Virginia  150  00 

By  the  s  u, ie  from  tii  •  Cincinnati  Femak-  Baptist  Mission  Society,  Ohio  60  00 

By  the  same  fro, 11  the  Cincinnati  Foreign  Mission  Society,  Ohio        -           -  45  00 

By  the  same  from  the  Gnat  Ogeeehce  church,  Bryan  county,  Georgia        -  116  31 

By  the  same  from  various  sources,  including  75  dollars  for  translations       -  2835  n 

10  By  Dr.  Staughton,  from  the  SanSom  street  Baptist  Female  Mission  Society  Pliil.  300  00 

By  the  same  per  collection  in  Sansom  street  Meeting  House,  Philadelphia  43  08 

13715  85 

'.lay  10  By  balance  due  the  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign  Missions         -  -  -        10051  63 

V.'ethe  subscribers  having  been  appointed  a  committee  to  audit  the  Treasurer's  accounts,  do  hereby 
certify,  that  we  have  carefully  examined  the  receipts  and  expenditures,  as  stated  in  the  accounts  and 
do  find  the  balance  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer  to  be  ten  thousand  and  fifty-one  dollars  and  sixty  - 
three  cents,  this  loth  day  of  May  1817. 

MATTHIAS  B.  T\LLM\DGE, 
ROBERT  B.  SEMPLE. 

Committee  of  account  v. 
Independent  of  the  above  balance  of-----------         10051  63 

The.-,    is  invested  in   United  States  Six  per  cent  Stock IIImo  54 

Also,  three  shares  in  the  Bank  of  America,  New  York 300  00 


The  following. sums  have  been  received  by  the  Treas.  since  his  accounts  were  audited  the  10th  of  May,  viz. 
By  the  Rev.  Dr.  Furnian  from   Mrs.  H.  Towns-,  nd.  Charleston,  South  Carolina  -  100  00 

By  Rev.  Luther  Rice,  from  the  Washington  Bap.  Society  for  Foreign  Missions,  Dis.  Col.  300  00 
By  Mr.  Thomas  Swain,  frsni  the  N.  J,  rsey  Baptist  Foreign  Mission  Society,  New  Jersey  114  66 
By  Rev.  S.  Goodale,  from  the  Ontario  auxiliary  Mission  Society,  New  York  -  62  00 

By  Rev.  B.  M.  Beebee,  from  the  skaneateies  Mission  Soeiety,  Onondaga  co.  New  York  100  25 
By  Rev.  Jesse  Mercer,  from  the  Powelton  Baptist  Mission  Society,  Georgia        -  -  550  00 

By  the  same,  from  the  Ocmulgee  Baptist   Mission  Society,  Georgia         -  310  19 

By  the  same,  from  the  Sarepta  Baptist  Mission  Society,  Georgia  ...  100  00 

By  the  same,  ftom  the  Georgia  Baptist  association,  Georgia  -  -  -  -  57  00 

.     By  Asa  Runyan  Esq.  from  the  East  Jersey  Mission  Society,  New  Jersey  -  -  100  00 

(JJ*  Any  items  not  inserted  in  the  preceding,  shall  appear  in  the  next  Report, 


151 


MISSION  TO  BURMAH. 

Of  the  character  and  prospects  of  this  increasingly  interesting  mission,  a  satis- 
factory estimate  may  be  formed  from  the  following  communications. 

From  the   Rev,  Mr.  Judson. 

Rangoon,  Sept.  6,  1815. 

REV.  AND   DEAR  SIR, 

Yours  of  July  1st  and  10th,  1814,  with  a  copy  of  the  proceedings 
of  the  Convention,  came  to  hand  yesterday.  They  have  inspired  us 
with  new  life,  and  fiiled  our  heaits  with  gratitude  and  praise,  Great 
is  the  favour  which  God  has  shown  the  churches  in  the  United  States, 
in  exciting  then*  so  generally  in  behalf  of  the  heathen  world.  He  that 
watereth,  shall  be  wateied  himself.  I  thank  the  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions  for  the  notice  they  have  taken  of  me,  and  accept  with  grati- 
tude the  appointment  to  be  their  missionary;  assuring  them,  that  I 
derive  from  this  new  connexion  much  encouragement,  and  additional 
inducements  to  be  diligent  and  faithful  in  missionary  services.  Nor 
would  I  forget  to  be  grateful  for  all  favours  that  have  been  shown  my 
beloved  brothel  Rice,  and  for  the  many  friends  that  have  come  for- 
ward to  patronize  him  in  every  part  of  the  Union.  We  have  some- 
time, during  his  long  absence,  and  our  ignorance  of  his  situation, 
been  ready  to  fear  that  he  would  be  unable  to  rejoin  us,  and  be  forced 
to  direct  his  attention  to  some  other  sphere  of  Christian  labour.  But 
our  hopes  are  now  revived  ;  and,  especially  since  we  have  received 
intelligence  of  peace,  we  are  daily  expecting  his  welcome  return. 

A  slight  sketch  of  our  movements,  particularly  at  the  time  of  our 
coming  to  Rangoon,  I  now  submit.  After  a  mournful  separation 
from  brother  Rice,  at  the  Isle  of  France,  in  March,  18  13,  we  remained 
there  about  two  months,  waiting  for  a  passage  to  some  of  the  eastern 
islands,  not  venturing  at  that  time  to  think  a  mission  to  Buimah  prac- 
ticable. But  there  being  no  prospect  of  accomplishing  our  wishes 
directly,  we  concluded  to  take  passage  to  Madras,  and  proceed  thence 
as  circumstances  should  direct.  We  arrived  there  in  June,  and  were 
immediately  informed  of  the  renewed  hostilities  of  the  Company's 
government  toward  missionaries,  exhibited  in  their  treatment  of  the 
brethren  both  at  Serampore  and  Bombay  We  were,  of  course,  re- 
ported at  the  police,  and  an  account  of  our  arrival  forwarded  to  the 
supreme  government  in  Bengal.  It  became,  therefore,  a  moral  cer- 
tainty, that  as  soon  as  an  order  could  be  received  at  Madras,  we  should 
be  again  arrested,  and  ordered  to  England.  Our  only  safety  appeared 
to  consist  in  escaping  from  Madias  before  such  order  should  arrive. 
It  may  easily  be  conceived  with  what  feelings  I  inquired  the  desti- 
nation of  vessels  in  the  Madras  roads.  I  found  none  that  would  sail 
in  season,  but  one  bound  to  Rangoon  !  A  mission  to  Rangoon  we  had 
been  accustomed  to  regard  with  feelings  of  horror.  But  it  was  now 
brought  to  a  point.  We  must  either  venture  there,  or  be  sent  to 
Europe.  All  other  paths  were  shut  up;  and  thus  situated,  (though 
dissuaded  by  all  our  friends  at  Madras),  we  commended  oursehesto 
the  care  of  God,  and  embarked  the  22d  of  June.     It  was  a  crazy  old 


15£ 

■vessel.  The  captain  was  the  only  person  on  boafcd  that  could  speak 
our  language,  and  we  had  no  other  apartment  than  what  was  made 
by  canvass.  Our  passage  was  very  tedious.  Mrs.  Judson  was  taken 
dangerously  ill,  and  continued  so,  until,  at  one  period,  I  came  to  ex- 
perience the  awful  sensation  which  necessarily  resulted  from  the 
expectation  of  an  immediate  separation  from  my  beloved  wife,  the 
only  remaining  companion  of  my  wanderings.  About  the  same  time, 
the  captain  being  unable  to  make  the  Carnicobar  island,  where  it  was 
intended  to  take  in  a  cargo  of  cocoa-nuts,  we  were  driven  into  a  dan- 
gerous strait,  between  the  little  and  great  Andamans,  two  savage 
coasts,  where  the  captain  had  never  been  before,  and  where,  if  we 
had  been  cast  ashore,  we  should  (according  to  all  accounts)  have  been 
killed  and  eaten  by  the  natives.  But  as  one  evil  is  sometimes  an  an- 
tidote to  another,  so  it  happened  with  us.  Our  being  driven  into  this 
dangerous,  but  quiet  channel,  brought  immediate  relief  to  the  agita- 
ted and  exhausted  frame  of  Mrs.  Judson,  and  conduced  essentially  to 
her  recovery.  And  in  the  event,  we  were  safely  conducted  over  the 
black  rocks,  which  we  sometimes  saw  in  the  gulf  below,  and  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  islands  found  favourable  winds,  which  gently  wafted 
us  forward  to  Rangoon.  But  on  arriving  here,  other  trials  awaited  us. 
We  had  never  before  seen  a  place  where  European  influence 
had  not  contributed  to  smooth  and  soften  the  rough  features  of  un- 
cultivated nature.  The  prospect  of  Rangoon,  as  we  approached,  was 
quite  disheartening.  I  went  on  shore,  just  at  night,  to  take  a  view 
of  the  place,  and  the  Mission-house  ;  but  so  dark,  and  cheerless,  and 
unpromising  did  all  things  appear,  that  the  evening  of  that  day,  after 
my  return  to  the  ship,  we  have  marked  as  the  most  gloomy  and  dis- 
tressing that  we  ever  passed.  Instead  of  rejoicing,  as  we  ought  to 
have  done,  in  having  found  a  heathen  land,  from  which  we  were  not 
immediately  driven  away,  such  were  our  weaknesses,  that  we  felt  we 
had  no  portion  left  here  beiovv,  and  found  consolation  only  in  looking 
beyond  our  pilgrimage,  which  we  tried  to  flatter  ourselves  would  be 
short,  to  that  peaceful  region  where  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling, 
and  the  weary  are  at  rest.  But  if  ever  we  commended  ourselves, 
sincerely  and  without  reserve,  to  the  disposal  of  our  heavenly  Father, 
it  was  on  this  evening.  And  after  some  recollection  and  prayer,  we 
experienced  something  of  tlie  presence  of  Him  who  cleaveth  closer 
than  a  brother;  something  of  that  peace  which  our-  Saviour  be- 
queathed to  his  followers, — a  legacy  which  we  know  from  this  expe- 
rience, endures  when  the  fleeting  pleasures  and  unsubstantial  riches 
of  the  world  are  passed  away.  The  next  day  Mrs.  Judson  was  car- 
ried into  the  town,  being  unable  to  walk,  and  we  found  a  home  at  the 
Mission-house,  though  Mr.  Carey  was  absent  at  Ava.  We  soon 
began  to  find  that  it  was  in  our  hearts  to  live  and  die  with  the  Bur- 
mans.  We  gradually  became  reconciled  to  the  place ;  and  from  a 
conviction  of  the  superior  importance  of  this  to  any  unoccupied  sta- 
tion, and  a  hope  that,  notwithstanding  the  frightful  accounts  we  had 
received,  we  should  find  it  practicable  to  remain,  we  were  induced  to 
pitch  our  tent.  We  applied  very  soon  to  the  study  of  the  language  ; 
and  in  this  we  have  been  closely  engaged  to  the  present  time,  a  period 
of  about  two  years,  so  far  as  Mrs,.  Judson's  health,  and  my  numerous 
interruptions  have  permitted. 


153 

The  Burman  empire  (so  called)  comprises  the  former  kingdom* 
of  Arracan,  Ava,  and  Pegu,  whose  sovereigns  have  been  displaced 
by  the  celebrated  Alompra,  the  founder  of  the  present  dynasty,  or  by 
successors.  This,  and  some  adjacent  countries,  have  sometimes 
been  termed  Indo-Chinese  nations,  as  situated  between  India  proper 
and  the  empire  of  China.  The  emperor  is  an  absolute  monarch. 
He  is  regarded  as  the  sole  lord  arid  proprietor  of  life  and  proper'y 
in  his  dominions;  and,  without  the  concurrence  of  any,  his  word  is 
irresistible  law.  Under  an  unenlightened  government,  perfectly 
despotic,  every  thing  is,  of  course,  very  precarious.  It  therefore 
becomes  a  missionary  in  this  place  to  be  peculiarly  prudent  and 
cautious.  One  unadvised  step  might  excite  some  iU-grounded  sus- 
picion, and  plunge  all  in  ruin. 

Rangoon,  which  together  with  the  adjacent  country  is  governed  by 
a  viceroy,  is  situated  on  one  of  the  outlets  of  the  Great  Irrawaddy 
river,  about  thirty  miles  from  the  sea.     It  is  the  port  to  which  Euro- 
peans most  frequently  resort,  and  contains  a  population  of  about 
40,000.*     Some  of  the  inhabitants  are  of  Portuguese  extraction,  and 
have  two  or  three  churches  and  priests.     The  Armenians  also  have 
one  church.     There  are  only  four  or  five  English  or  French  people, 
and  not  one  settled  family.     The  Mission-house  is  built  about  half  a 
mile  north  of  the  town,  in  the  midst  of  woods.     We  are  surrounded 
on  all  sides  with  pagodas,  or  rather  monuments,  (some  of  immense 
structure,)  raised  in  memory  of  Gaudama,  the  last  Boodh,  or  deity. 
The  first  Protestant  missionaries,  who  visited  this  country,  were 
Messrs.  Chater  and    Mardon,  of  the  Serampore  connexion,  in  the 
year  1807.     Mr.  Mardon,  after  a  trial  of  a  few  months,  declined  en- 
gaging, and  Mr.  Chater  was  joined  by  Mr.  F.  Carey.     Some  time 
after,  Messrs.  Pritchett  and  Brain  arrived  from  the  London  Society. 
Mr.  Brain  died,  and  the  other  missionary,  after  a  year's  residence, 
removed  to  Vizagapatam.     Mr.  Chater  remained  four  years,  and  had 
made  considerable  progress  in  the  language.     A  copy  of  his  transla- 
tion of  Matthew,  in  his  writing,  is  now  with  me  ;  a  part  of  which, 
revised  by  Mr.  F.  Carey,  has  been  printed  at  Serampore.     How  far 
he  had  proceeded  in  the  other  Gospels,  I  do  not  exactly  know  :  but 
at  length  he  relinquished  the  mission,  and  removed  to  Columbo  on 
Ceylon.     Some  time  before  my  arrival,  a  young  man,  belonging  to 
the  church  in  Calcutta,  had  joined  Mr.  Carey  ;  but  after  a  few  months 
he  also  quitted  the  place.      When  I  arrived,  Mr.  Carey  was  at  Ava, 
whither  he  had  been  summoned  by  the  emperor.     After  his  return, 
I  had  some  connexion  with  him  for  about  a  year,  though  he  was  at 
Rangoon  but  very  little.     At  one  time  I  had  some  thought  of  accom- 
panying him  to  Ava;  but  a  merciful  God  ordered  otherwise.     He 
left  us  a  year  ago,  with  his  family.     Since  that  he  has  accepted  an 
appointment  under  the  Burman  government,  and  announced  to  me, 
and  the  brethren  at  Serampore,  that  he  has  relinquished  the  ministry. 
He  is  now  in  Bengal.     Whether  he  will  ever  do  any  thing  in  a  mis- 
sionary way  is  quite  uncertain.     Brother  Ward,  however,  has  just 
written  me,  that  they  hope  to  get  Matthew  through  the  press  before 
Felix  leaves.     Thus,  of  seven  missionaries  who  have   visited   the 

*  Not  20,000,  as  T,  by  mistake,  wrote  elsewhere. 
T 


15* 

country  in  about  as  many  years,  I  am  the  only  one  remaining.  1 
have,  at  present,  no  hesitancy  concerning  the  path  of  duty.  We 
have  long  been  thankful  that  God  has  brought  us  to  this  place.  The 
field  of  labour  is  very  great,  and  the  prospect  of  usefulness  as  good 
as  can  be  expected  in  such  a  country,  and  under  such  a  government. 
The  hearts  of  all  are  in  the  hand  of  God,  and  here  is  all  our  hope. 

I  have  hitherto  received  pecuniary  supplies  from  the  Serampore 
brethren,  whose  kindnesses  have  laid  us  under  great  obligations,  and 
Avhose  communications  have  been  peculiarly  grateful  to  us  in  our 
solitary  situation. 

In  the  preceding,  I  have  mentioned  some  things  which  are  already 
well  known;  but  thought  it  not  improper,  in  my  first  communication 
to  the  Board,  to  state  them  in  connexion. 

Mrs.  Judson  has  lately  returned  from  a  voyage  to  Madras,  which 
she  took  in  quest  of  medical  aid,  and  is  greatly  benefitted.  She 
unites  with  me  in  expressions  of  gratitude  and  respect  to  our  ho- 
noured patrons. 

I  remain,  Rev.  and  dear  Sir, 

Your  missionary  and  servant  for  Jesus'  sake, 

A.  JUDSON. 
Rev.  Wm.  Staughton,  D.D.  Cor.  Sec. 
of  the  Baptist  Board  of  Missions. 


From  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hough  to  the  Board. 

Calcutta,  April  25,  1816. 

REV.  AND   DEAR  BRETHREN, 

I  have  only  time  to  drop  you  a  few  lines,  by  a  vessel  now  clearing 
out  for  Salem.  We  arrived  here  the  23d  instant.  Our  passage  was 
unusually  pleasant;  it  cannot  be  said  that  we  suffered,  but  enjoyed  it, 
The  gentlemen  in  the  cabin  were  politely  attentive  on  all  occasions, 
and  treated  myself  and  family  with  all  that  respect  and  decorum 
which  we  could  desire. 

Often,  in  our  private  apartment,  we  found  the  Lord  a  present  help. 
He  caused  his  face  to  shine  upon  us  and  gave  us  peace.  Such  has 
been  my  experience  of  the  Divine  favour  during  our  passage,  both 
towards  myself  and  particular  family,  in  many  respects,  that  I  think 
my  confidence  in  the  Lord  has  increased,  certainly  not  diminished; 
and  I  yet  feel  not  only  willing,  but  desirous  of  advancing  in  the  work 
of  the  mission. 

Whilst  on  board  the  ship,  there  was  such  a  uniformity  of  scenery, 
sameness  of  habit,  and  evenness  of  mental  exercises,  that  a  journal 
of  one  day  would  be  that  of  the  voyage.  No  storms  jeopardized  our 
lives;  no  vicissitudes  altered  our  habits;  no  anxieties  ruffled  the 
corriposure  of  our  minds. 

The  general  state  of  the  mission  in  India,  as  nigh  as  I  can  learn  in 
so  short  a  time  as  I  have  been  here,  presents  a  favourable  aspect. 
Our  fathers  in  the  mission  here  are  not  discouraged,  finding  their 
labours  nut  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  And  with  respect  to  our  brother 
Judson  and  wife,  I  learn  that  they  are  vet  at   Rangoon,   in   health, 


15-5 

peace,  and  prosperity.  Intense  in  application,  they  pursue  with  ar.- 
dour  and  success  the  acquisition  of  the  Burman  language  ;  and  ap- 
pearances have  not,  as  yet,  indicated  any  unpropitious  symptoms 
towards  the  work  in  which  they  are  engaged. 

It  is  my  intention  to  proceed  to  Rangoon  as  soon  as  possible ;  and 
as  commercial  intercourse  is  very  frequent  between  this  and  that  port, 
it  is  not  probable  I  shall  abide  here  long.  I  most  earnestly  solicit 
that  you  would  often  make  mention  of  us  in  your  prayers;  that  the 
Lord  would  appear  with  and  for  us  in  all  our  labour  and  tribulation  ; 
that  he  would  grant  facilities  for  sending  the  Gospel  to  bhis  land, 
verily  of  darkness  and  in  the  shadow  of  death. 

As  my  time  is  short,  and  expecting  to  write  you  again  in  a  few 
weeks,  wishing  you  the  direction  and  support  of  the  Father  of 
mercies,  I  subscribe,  dear  brethren, 

Your  unworthy  servant  for  Christ's  sake, 

G.  H.  HOUGH. 


From  the  same. 

Serampore,  June  4,  1816. 

REV.    AND    DEAR    BRETHREN, 

Immediately  on  my  arrival  at  Calcutta,  I  wrote  to  you,  with  the 
expectation  of  sending  by  a  vessel,  bound  to  Salem,  then  dropping 
down  the  river.  The  letter  failed  of  reaching  the  ship,  and  came 
back  to  my  hands  ;  I  send  it,  however,  by  this  opportunity,  with  the 
addition  of  a  few  more  particulars  since  that  date. 

We  came  to  this  place  the  third  day  after  our  arrival  at  Calcutta. 
We  were  met  by  the  whole  mission  family  with  the  utmost  cordiality, 
and  have  been  very  comfortably  and  happily  situated. 

Since  I  have  been  here,  two  letters  have  been  received  from  brother 
Judson;  the  first  in  April,  informing  Dr.  Carey  that  he  wished  to 
have  some  small  tracts  printed,  and  inquiring  whether  it  could  be 
done  at  Serampore.  It  was  instantly  advised  by  the  brethren  that  it 
be  done  at  Rangoon,  and  that  a  press,  types,  paper,  See.  be  taken  round 
with  me.  The  circumstance  of  the  arrival  of  such  a  letter  just  at  the 
time  of  my  coming  out,  has,  in  some  measure,  strengthened  me  to 
pursue  the  way  in  which  I  before  walked  with  some  trembling.  The 
brethren  have  begged  our  acceptance  of  a  press,  an  a  gift. 

The  second  letter  from  brother  Judson,  was  dated  the  7th  May, 
and  received  the  last  of  the  month  ;  it  consists  of  the  language  of  grief 
and  affliction,  having  a  few  days  previous  buried  their  only  son, 
eight  months  old.     They  continue  to  be  in  health. 

To  maintain  a  station  at  Rangoon,  is  attended  with  considerable  ex- 
pense, but  considered  to  be  a  very  important  one.  For  if  the  Cross 
of  the  Redeemer  can  be  substantially 'planted  there,  of  which  there 
is  at  present  a  prospect,  the  benefits  of  it  will  undoubtedly  be  diffused 
far  into  the  interior  of  the  country,  and  the  country  of  China  may  not 
improbably,  in  the  lapse  of  a  few  years,  feel  the  influence  of  the  Gos- 
pel extending  from  the  two  points,  Serampore  and  Rangoon.  Should 
the  Lord  incline  the  hearts  of  the  rulers  of  Burmah  to  be  favourable, 
or  even  indifferent  to  the  undertaking,  it  requires  only  inflexible  de- 


156 

termination  and  perseverance  on  our  part  to  surmount  the  common 
barriers  of  Paganism. — "  By  our  God  we  can  leap  over  a  wall  •"  and 
"  now  ive  live,  if  ye  stand  fast  in  the  Lord." 

Dear  brethren,  "  pray  for  us  ;"  and  while  this  favour  is  solicited, 
it  is  not  to  put  you  in  remembrance  of  us,  believing  from  the  heart 
that  you  cannot  forget  us,  but  to  tell  you  that  we  feel  as  though  your 
prayers,  and  those  of  all  praying  people,  would  help  us  much  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord. 

Yours  in  missionary  bonds, 

GEO.  H.  HOUGH. 


From  Mr.  Judson  to  Dr.  Stcwghton. 

Rangoon,  August  3d,  1816. 

REV.  AND  DEAR  SIR, 

Four  months  have  now  elapsed  since  I  was  seized  with  a  nervous 
affection  of  my  head  and  eyes,  which  has  prevented  my  making  any 
advance  in  the  language,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  time  has  inca- 
pacitated me  for  even  writing  a  letter.  I  had  fully  made  up  my  mind 
to  take  passage  to  Bengal,  with  captain  Kidd,  a  pious  man,  who  has 
been  living  with  us  for  the  last  two  months,  when  the  news  reached 
us  that  brother  Hough  had  arrived  in  Bengal,  and  might  be  expected 
here  in  a  few  weeks.  I  consequently  concluded  to  wait  for  the  pre- 
sent, and  take  some  future  opportunity  of  trying  the  sea  air,  and  get- 
ting some  medical  assistance,  without  which  1  have,  for  some  time, 
feared  that  I  should  never  be  able  to  apply  myself  again  to  my  stu- 
dies. Within  a  few  days,  however,  I  have  felt  more  relief  from  the 
pain  and  distressing  weakness  of  my  eyes,  than  I  have  known  since  I 
was  first  taken  ;  and  I  begin  to  hope,  that  the  measures  I  am  now 
pursuing  will  issue  in  my  recovery,  without  a  voyage  at  sea. 

Since  the  1 1th  of  last  April,  I  have  not  been  able  to  read  a  page  in 
a  Burman  book.  During  this  period,  I  found  that  I  could  attend, 
with  less  pain,  to  the  compilation  of  a  Burman  grammar,  than  to  any 
other  study.  And  this  I  was  induced  to  persevere  in,  from  the  hope, 
that  if  I  was  never  again  able  to  prosecute  the  study  of  the  language, 
the  knowledge  I  have  hitherto  acquired,  would  not  be  wholly  lost  to 
a  successor.  The  grammar  is  now  completed,  and  1  had  fully  intend- 
ed to  forward  you  a  copy  by  this  conveyance  ;  but  I  find,  that  in  .my 
present  state,  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  transcribe  it. 

All  that  I  can  do  at  present  is  to  send  you  a  copy  of  a  Burman 
tract,  which  has  been  chiefly  composed  during  the  same  period,  and 
which  I  accompany  with  an  English  translation.  The  Burman  ori- 
ginal is  pronounced,  by  my  teacher  and  others,  not  only  intelligi- 
ble, but  perspicuous  ;  and  to  get  this  printed  was  one  object  that  I  had 
in  view  in  going  to  Bengal.  Brother  Hough  has,  however,  just  sent 
round  a  press  and  types,  which  are  now  in  the  Rangoon  river ;  and 
as  he  expects  to  follow  himself  the  first  opportunity  ;  and,  as  I  have 
heard,  understands  the  printing  business,  I  hope  the  time  is  not  far 
distant,  when  we  shall  have  a  bit  of  bread  to  give  to  the  starving,  pe- 
rishing Burmans,  around  us. 


157 

It  will  probably  be  impossible  to  keep  the  press  long  in  Rangoon. 
It  will  be  ordered  up  to  Ava,  as  soon  as  the  news  of  such  a  curiosity 
reaches  the  king's  ears.  Nor  is  this  to  be  regretted  ;  under  the  over- 
ruling providence  of  God,  it  may  open  a  wide  door  to  missionary  ex- 
ertions. Two  ot  us  would  remove  to  Ava.  But  we  could  not  sub- 
sist there,  without  an  intermediate  station  at  Rangoon.  In  this  view 
of  things,  it  would  be  very  desirable,  that  another  man  should  be  found 
to  accompany  brother  Rice.  If  I  should  say  two  men  more,  with 
brother  Rice,  as  I  wish  to  do,  it  might  appear  inconsistent  with  some- 
thing I  wrote  some  time  ago.  However,  the  press  and  a  station  at 
Ava  quite  alter  the  circumstances.  I  have  been  led  to  think  and  in- 
quire more  about  Ava  of  late,  by  a  report  that  is  in  circulation,  that 
I  am  soon  to  be  ordered  up  to  Ava  myself.  And  the  more  I  think 
of  it,  the  more  I  am  inclined  to  believe,  that  it  is  the  way  in  which 
the  gospel  is  to  be  introduced  into  this  empire.  But  whoever  comes, 
I  hope  they  will  have  more  grace,  more  talent,  and  more  sweetness 
of  disposition  than  I  have.  These  are  three  essentials  requisite  in  a 
missionary,  especially  the  latter,  if  he  expects  to  be  united  with 
others. 

The  British  Baptists  have  made  a  noble  beginning  in  Western 
India.  It  remains  for  the  American  Baptists  to  make  an  attempt  on 
the  Eastern  side.  But  we  need  a  Carey,  a  Marshman,  and  a  Ward. 
As  for  myself,  I  fear  I  shall  prove  only  a  pioneer,  and  do  a  little  in 
preparing  the  way  for  others.  But  such  as  I  am,  I  feel  devoted  to 
the  work,  and  with  the  grace  of  God,  and  the  help  of  the  society,  am 
resolved  to  persevere  to  the  end  of  my  life. 

I  presume  that  Mr.  Hough  has  brought  many  letters  from  Ame- 
rica, but  I  have  received  none  as  yet.  I  have  hitherto  received  two 
letters  only  from  you,  one  of  July,  and  the  other  of  December,  1814. 

I  remain,  See. 

A.JUDSON. 


Mr.  Hough  to  the  Boa?-d. 

Calcutta,  September  6th,  1816. 

DEAR    BRETHREN, 

Having  understood  in  June  last,  that  a  brig  was  fitting  out  for 
Rangoon,  I  immediately  made  application  for  a  passage.  After  re- 
peated interviews  with  the  owner,  I  obtained  his  terms,  which  were 
1000  sicca  rupees,  and  60  rupees  per  ton  for  freight,  for  all  baggage 
which  I  could  not  put  into  my  cabin,  which  was  but  a  little  larger 
than  was  requisite  to  lodge  in.  The  great  anxiety  I  had  to  be  at  the 
place  of  destination,  and  the  uncertainty  when  another  vessel  would 
be  going  to  Rangoon,  induced  me  to  comply  with  these  terms.  A 
printing-press  and  types,  with  other  materials  necessary  for  printing, 
paper,  a  few  articles  of  furniture,  and  provision  only  to  be  had  by 
importation  at  Rangoon,  I  was  under  the  necessity  of  freighting, 
which  amounted  to  !71  rupees,  making  in  all  1171  rupees,  about 
8570.  I  soon  perceived  I  had  a  difficult  man  to  deal  with,  and  that 
I  had  not  much  accommodation  to  expect.     On  Saturday  previous 


158 

to  Lord's  clay,  July  1st,  I  understood  the  brig  would  drop  clown  the 
river  next  clay.  I  therefore  went  onboard  with  my  family  ;  but  the 
owner  and  the  captain  advised  me  to  stay  on  shore,  and  not  embark 
that  day,  on  account  of  the  confusion  of  weighing  anchor  ;  observing, 
at  the  same  time,  that  they  should  proceed  but  a  little  below  the  fort 
that  day,  and  should  weigh  anchor  the  next  morning  between  9  and 
10  o'clock,  at  which  time  it  would  be  easy  for  me  to  be  on  board. 
We  accordingly  went  on  shore,  and  the  next  morning  at  9  took  a 
boat  to  go  on  board  the  brig,  but  could  not  find  her.  I  addressed  a 
note  to  the  owner  inquiring  where  she  was,  and  was  informed  that  she 
proceeded  much  further  than  was  expected,  and  that  she  left  her  an- 
chorage on  Monday  at  8  o'clock,  and  had  gone  far  down  the  river ; 
and  that  with  a  boat  I  might  possibly  overtake  her,  as  she  could  not 
move  against  the  tide,  and  the  wind  was  contrary.  After  procuring 
a  boat,  which  could  not  be  had  under  30  rupees,  and  taking  some 
provisions  on  board,  we  set  out  in  pursuit  of  the  brig,  expecting  to 
be  out  all  night.  Our  children  soon  fell  asleep,  and  the  hard  plank 
was  to  them  a  grateful  bed.  Having  eight  oars  in  motion,  we  made 
as  much  speed  as  possible,  and  about  midnight  we  came  in  sight  of 
the  brig  ;  but  the  tide  setting  against  us  with  great  violence,  and  she 
being  in  the  deepest  channel,  the  first  attempt  of  the  boatmen  to  lay 
alongside  failed,  aud  we  were  carried  a  considerable  distance  from  her. 
Just  at  this  time,  and  while  the  boatmen  were  attempting  a  se- 
cond time  to  reach  her,  a  tremendous  gale  of  wind,  accompanied 
with  torrents  of  rain,  common  at  this  season,  arose,  and  from  the 
timidity,  or  want  of  presence  of  mind,  in  the  Bengalee  boatmen,  they 
attempted  to  cast  anchor  in  a  depth  of  water  beyond  the  cable's  length, 
with  sail  still  set,  although  I  repeatedly  called  on  them  to  take  it  in  ; 
seeing  they  did  not  appear  to  know  what  to  do,  I  sprang  forward  and 
seized  the  sail,  telling  them  as  well  as  I  could  in  the  Bengalee  lan- 
guage, what  I  wanted,  when  they  took  it  in.  By  this  time,  under  the 
expectation  of  being  upset  every  moment,  we  were  driven  into  an- 
chorage ground,  when  the  anchor  was  cast  out,  and  not  long  after 
the  storm  subsided.  The  third  attempt  to  reach  the  brig  succeeded. 
After  getting  on  board,  we  found  our  accommodations  very  miserable, 
but  we  resolved  to  strive  to  be  content.  The  next  morning  we  floated 
along  as  far  as  the  tide  would  bear  us,  and  nothing  of  importance 
transpired.  On  the  3d,  after  casting  anchor,  the  captain  and  pilot 
went  on  shore,  and  returned  at  midnight  in  a  state  of  intoxication. 
My  fears  were  greatly  excited  during  their  absence,  and  after  their 
return,  in  consequence  ol  being  placed  under  such  circumstances  in 
a  river  the  most  difficult  of  navigation  of  any  other  river  in  the  world. 
On  the  4th,  having  proceeded  as  far  as  the  tide  would  permit  us,  the 
captain  and  pilot  again  went  on  shore,  and  returned  about  7  P.  M. 
wholly  incapacitated  for  duty  on  any  emergency,  or  even  in  a  com- 
mon case.  On  the  5th,  by  1 1  A.  M.  the  captain  became  incapacitated 
to  command  his  crew;  and  they  being  mostly  raw  hands,  it  was  with 
the  utmost  difficulty,  under  the  orders  of  a  pilot  but  barely  rational, 
that  they  could  manage  the  brig.  Mrs.  Hough  began  to  feel  and 
express  alarm,  and  I  began  to  apprehend  also,  as  the  most  dangerous 
parts  of  the  river  were  yet  to  be  navigated,  that  our  lives  were  in 


159 

jeopardy.  As  the  captain  and  pilot  had  both  been  invariably  drunk 
from  the  time  of  coming  to  anchor,  I  had  no  reason  to  expect  but  it 
would  continue  to  be  so  ;  and  as  it  was  the  most  tempestuous  part 
of  the  rainy  season,  and  a  sudden  gust  of  wjnd  might  drive  the  brig 
from  her  anchorage  ;  and  as  there  was  no  mate  on  hoard,  or  any  other 
person  capable  of  taking  command  in  case  of  delinquency  on  the  part 
of  the  captain  or  pilot;  reasoning  on  a  very  probable  case,  I  could 
not  but  feel  in  danger.  About  3  o'clock  on  this  day,  (5th,)  I  learnt 
that  the  captain  and  pilot  were  going  on  shore  at  Kedgerte.  I  con- 
cluded to  take  my  family  and  accompany  them  ;  but  before  a  boat 
could  be  obtained  the  captain  became  helpless,  and  had  gone  forward 
into  the  steerage,  and  had  fallen  into  a  deep  sleep.  A  boat  coming 
alongside  soon  after  this,  we  got  into  her  with  the  pilot,  and  went  to 
the  house  of  Mr.  Tucker,  the  port-master,  where  the  pilot  calling 
for  liquor,  was  soon  reduced  to  such  a  state  as  to  require  the  aid  of 
Mr.  Tucker's  servants  to  conduct  him  down  stairs,  where  he  was 
laid  on  a  couch.  I  informed  Mr.  T.  of  our  situation  on  board,  and 
what  had  been  the  conduct  of  these  two  men.  He  immediately  re- 
plied that  it  was  his  duty  to  make  report  of  all  vessels  appearing 
unfit  for  sea,  in  any  manner,  to  the  Insurance  Office  at  Calcutta,  and 
would  go  on  board.  Having  ordered  his  boat  we  both  went  on  board. 
By  this  time  the  captain  had  got  up,  but  was  unable  to  stand  without 
supporting  himself.  After  asking  a  few  questions,  Mr.  T.  took  a 
survey  of  the  brig,  and  gave  it  as  his  judgment  that  she  was  in  many 
respects  unfit  for  sea ;  at  the  same  time  saying  he  should  report  her 
to  the  Asiatic  Insurance  Company,  at  Calcutta,  which  he  accordingly 
did.  It  was  at  this  time,  and  under  such  circumstances,  that  I  con- 
eluded  to  take  from  her  what  articles  I  could,  leave  her,  and  return 
to  Calcutta;  Mr.  T.  bidding  us  a  cordial  welcome  at  his  house  until 
such  return  could  be  -effected.  It  was  not  until  the  next  morning 
that  the  pilot  was  able  to  get  on  board.  I  followed  him  soon  after, 
and  took  from  the  brig  what  of  my  articles  were  accessible,  when  the 
pilot  weighed  anchor  and  proceeded  on  his  voyage.  On  the  8th,  the 
ship  Gentoo  from  Salem,  captain  "Northey,  coming  up  the  river,  an- 
chored off  Kedgeree,  when  Mr.  T.  with  his  boatmen  took  me  on  board, 
where,  making  known  my  situation,  and  that  I  wished  to  return  to 
Calcutta,  I  was  very  freely  accommodated.  On  the  9th  I  went  on 
board,  and  on  the  12th  arrived  at  Calcutta.  I  owe  many  thanks 
to  both  Mr.  Tucker  and  captain  Northey,  for  their  attention  and 
hospitality. 

A  few  days  since  I  learnt  that  the  brig,  four  weeks  after  she  sail- 
ed, and  one  after  the  pilot  left  her,  having  gone  out  to  sea,  became 
unmanageable,  and  put  back  in  distress.  After  undergoing  some  re- 
pairs, and  taking  in  some  provisions,  Sec.  she  again  went  to  sea.  It  is 
but  about  one  week  since  I  heard  this.  I  left  on  board  her  the  whole 
printing  apparatus,  besides  some  smaller  articles. 

On  my  return  to  Calcutta,  I  hoped  to  receive  at  least  a  part  of  the 
passage  money ;  but  on  addressing  a  note  to  Mr.  Patterson,  the  owner, 
he  refused  the  least  return,  saying,  that  my  leaving  the  brig  was  my 
own  choice,  that  I  paid  him  the  sum  in  consideration  of  being  allow- 
ed to  proceed  to  Rangoon  in  the  Frances  Anne,  and  that  the  room 


160 

which  I  occupied  might  have  admitted  cargo  to  the  amount  of  said 
sum,  &x.  Thus  I  have  suffered  an  afflicting  Joss,  which  might  be  re- 
covered perhaps  by  law,  but  not  with  honour  to  a  missionary. 

In  eight  days  after  our  return  from  Kedgeree  Mrs.  Hough  and 
our  little  daughter  were  taken  sick.  The  former  with  a  fever,  and 
the  latter  seized  with  violent  convulsions.  In  a  few  days  after,  our 
little  son  was  also  seized  with  a  fever.  In  great  mercy  my  health 
was  spared  to  me,  during  three  weeks,  the  most  part  of  which  time, 
Mrs.  Hough  and  our  two  children  were  confined  to  the  bed.  At  this 
time  I  was  placed  in  a  very  distressing  condition,  the  care  of  my  fa- 
mily devolving. wholly  on  myself,  having  no  assistance,  but  now  and 
then  the  call  of  a  friend.  I  found  it  impossible  to  obtain,  during  the 
sickness  of  my  family,  a  single  European  man  or  woman,  (excepting 
Mr.  Jonathan  Carey,  who  relieved  me  one  night),  who  would  watch 
a  night,  and  the. native  nurses  could  not  understand  me,  nor  I  them. 
The  blessing  of  health  has  again  returned. 

I  now  expect  to  embark  to-morrow  on  board  the  brig  Warvacting, 
captain  Ventura,  for  Rangoon,  who  gives  me  good  accommodations, 
for  500  rupees.  To-day  I  shall  put  my  baggage  on  board  :  as  the 
season  is  now  more  favourable  for  a  passage  to  Rangoon  than  it  was 
some  weeks  past,  we  hope  in  1  5  or  20  days  to  see  brother  Judson. 

Strive  together  in  your  prayers  for  us,  that  our  usefulness  may  be 
seen  amongst  the  heathen,  and  that  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  may  be 
glorified. 

In  Christian  love,  yours, 

GEORGE  H.  HOUGH. 


Communication  from  Rev.  Messrs.  Judson  and  Hough. 

Rangoon,  November  7th,  1816. 

REV.    AND    DEAR  SIR, 

It  is  with  peculiar  satisfaction  that  we  are,  at  length,  able  to  ad- 
dress a  letter  to  the  Board,  in  our'joint  capacity.  We  had  a  joyful 
meeting  in  this  place,  the  15th  ult.  Mr.  Hough  has  settled  in  one 
part  of  the  Mission-house;  and  we  are  now  united,  both  as  a  church 
of  Christ,  and  as  a  mission  society.  Our  regulations  on  the  latter 
point,  we  here  submit  to  the  Board.  It  will  be  evident,  at  first  sight, 
that  these  regulations  have  a  prospective  view,  and  are  framed  some- 
what differently  from  what  they  would  have  been,  had  we  not  ex- 
pected that  our  society  would  soon  be  enlarged.  But  we  hope  that 
the  time  is  not  far  distant,  when  they  will  receive  the  signature  of 
brother  Rice  also.  Indeed  we  hope  for  more  than  this;  we  hope  that 
one  or  two  others  will  be  found  to  accompany  Mr.  Rice. 

It  is  true  thai  one  of  us  remained  about  three  years  in  this  place, 
without  uttering  any  Macedonian  cries.  But  we  apprehend,  that 
the  time  is  now  come,  when  it  is  consistent  with  the  strictest  prudence 
to  lift  up  our  voice  and  say,  come  over  the  ocean  and  help  us.  By  a 
residence  of  three  years  in  this  country,  many  doubts  which  at  first 
-occurred,  are  removed;  and  many  points  concerning  the  practicabili- 
ty of  a  mission,  and  the  prospect  of  success,   are  ascertained.     We 


161 

cannot  now  enter  much  into  detail ;  but  we  desire  to  say,  that  we  con- 
sider the  mission  established  in  this  land.  We  unite  in  opinion, 
that  a  wide  door  is  set  open  for  the  introduction  of  the  religion  of 
Jesus  into  this  great  empire.  We  have  at  present  no  governmental 
interdict  to  encounter,  and  no  greater  obstacles  than  such  as  oppose 
the  progress  of  missionaries  in  every  heathen  land.  It  appears  to  us 
(and  may  it  so  appear  to  our  fathers  and  brethren)  that  God,  in  re- 
moving the  Engiish  mission  from  this  place,  and  substituting  in  their 
stead,  an  American  mission,  is  emphatically  calling  on  the  American 
churches  to  compassionace  the  poor  Burmans,  and  to  send  their  sil- 
ver, and  their  gold,  and  their  young  men,  to  this  eastern  part  of  the 
world,  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty. 

From  the  accompanying  articles  of  agreement,  you  will  be  able  to 
form  some  idea  of  the  probable  expense  of  a  mission  to  this  country. 
The  monthly  appropriation  for  subsistence  will  necessarily  be  enlarg- 
ed -as  our  families  increase.  It  was  originally  fixed  by  the  brethren 
at  Serampore,  and  has  been  found  by  Mr.  Judson,  just  sufficient  to 
meet  the  common  expenses  for  food  and  clothing.  No  expense  is 
yet  incurred  for  building  or  house-rent,  as  we  are  permitted  to  occu- 
py the  Mission-house,  erected  by  Messrs.  Chater  and  Carey,  and 
which  is  the  property  of  the  society  in  England.  It  is  difficult  to 
form  any  estimate  of  extra  mission  expenses,  such  as  (according  to 
the  Serampore  plan)  fall  not  within  the  compass  of  the  regular  month- 
ly allowance.  These  wdl  be  much  larger  than  they  are  at  present, 
when  we  commence  operations  on  a  larger  scale.  We  propose  to 
forward  to  the  Board,  at  the  close  of  every  year,  a  general  summary 
of  receipts  and  expenditures,  on  account  of  the  mission. 

It  is  with  great  pleasure  that  we  announce  the  valuable  present  of 
a  press  and  Burman  types,  made  to  us  by  the  Serampore  brethren. 
We  are  now  closing  in  a  room  for  a  temporary  printing  office  ;  and 
hope  very  soon  to  issue  a  Gospel  tract,  which  has  been  in  readiness 
some  time,  and  which  is  intended  to  give  the  heathen  around  us  some 
idea  of  the  way  of  salvation  through  the  Lord  Jesus.  But  we  cannot 
move  one  step  in  the  way  of  printing,  without  money.  Though  fa- 
voured with  the  press,  in  the  first  instance,  gratis,  we  have  already 
expended  in  paper,  freight  and  sundries,  about  four  hundred  rupees. 
We  therefore  beg  an  immediate  appropriation,  not  only  to  liquidate 
the  expenses  already  incurred,  but  to  enable  us  to  proceed  in  this  all 
important  part  of  our  work.  The  accounts  of  the  mission  press  we 
propose  to  keep  distinct ;  and  they  shall  be  submitted  together  with 
the  accounts  of  the  mission. 

We  know  not  how  long  the  press  will  be  permitted  to  remain  in 
Rangoon  ;  we  do  not,  however,  deprecate  its  removal  to  Ava.  Such 
a  measure  would  doubtless  tend  to  the  furtherance  of  the  cause,  and 
to  the  introduction  of  religion  into  the  very  heart  of  the  empire, 
whei'e  Satan's  seat  is.  But  in  this  case,  more  men  and  more  money 
would  be  imperiously  demanded  ;  and  we  trust  that  the  patronage 
of  the  Board  will  not  fail  us  in  these  necessary  points.  We  desire 
humbly  to  repeat  to  the  Board,  what  the  first  missionaries  from  the 
Baptist  society  in  England,  said  to  their  friends,  when  on  the  point  of 
embarkation  in  the  great  work  which  seems  destined  to  illumine 
Western  India  with  the  light  of  the  Gospel.    "  We  are,"  said  they, 

U 


162 

"  like  men  going  down  into  a  well ;  you  „tand  at  the  top,  and  hold  the 
ropes.  Do  no!  let  us  fall."  Hold  us  up,  brethren  and  fathers  ;  and 
if  h^altn  and  life  be  spared  to  us,  we  hope,  through  the  grace  of  God, 
to  see  Eastern  India  also  beginning  to  participate  in  the  same  glori- 
ous lignt.  Many  years  may  intervene,  in  the  latter,  as  well  as  in  the 
former  case  ;  many  difficulties  and  disappointments  may  try  your 
faith  andouis.  But  lee  patience  have  her  perfect  work  ;  let  us  not 
be  weary  of  well  doing;  for  in  due  time,  we  shall  reap,  if  ivc  faint 
not. 

Your  servants  in  the  Lord  Jesus, 

A.  JUDSON. 

GEORGE  H.  HOUGH. 

Rev.  Wm.  Staughton,  D.D.  Cor.  Sec.  > 
of  the  Baptist  Board  of  Missions.       $ 

ARTICLES  OF  AGREEMENT. 

In  order  more  effectually,  under  the  blessing  of  our  Lord  and  Master,  to 
aceomphsh  'he  important  work  tor  which  we  have  come  into  this  heathen  land, 
we,  the  undersigned,  form  a  union  on  the  following  principles,  viz. 

1.  We  give  ourselves  to  the  Lord  J -sus  Christ,  and  to  one  another  by  the 
will  of  God. 

2  We  agree  to  be  kindly  affectioned  one  towards  another  with  brotherly  love, 
in  honour  preferring  one  another ;  feeling  that  we 'have  one  Master,  even  Christ, 
and  I  hat  all  we  are  brethren. 

3.  We  agree  in  die  opinion,  that  our  sole  object  on  earth  is  to  introduce  the 
religion  of  Jesus  Christ  into  the  empire  of  B i  irmah  :  and  that  the  means  by 
which  we  hope  to  effect  this,  are  translating,  printing,  and  distributing  the 
holv  Scriptures;  preaching  the  Gospel ;  circulating  religious  Tracts,  and  pro- 
motmg  t.he  instruction  of  native  children. 

4.  We  therefore  agree  to  engage  in  no  secular  business,  for  the  purpose  of 
individual  emolument:  and  not  at  all,  unless,  in  the  opinion  of  the  brethren, 
the  great  jbject  of  the  mission  can  be  best  promoted  thereby. 

5.  We  agree  to  relinquish  all  private  right  to  remittances  from  America, 
avails  of  labour,  and  compensation  for  service ;  in  a  word,  to  place  all  money 
and  property,  from  whatever  quarter  accruing,  in  the  mission  fund:  Provided, 
that  nothing  in  this  article,  be  construed  to  affect  our  private  right  to  inherit- 
ances, or  personal  favours,  not  made  in  compensation  of  service. 

6  We  agree  that  all  the  members  of  the  mission  family  have  claims  on  the 
mission  fund  for  equal  support,  in  similar  circumstances;  the  claims  of  widows 
and  orphans  not  to  be,  in  the  least,  affected  by  the  death  of  the  head  of  their 
family.  B>it  it  is  to  be  understood,  that  no  one  shall  have  a  right  to  adopt  a 
child  into  the  mission  family,  so  as  to  entitle  it  to  the  claims  secured  in  this  ar- 
ticle, but  by  consent  of  the  brethren. 

7.  We  agree  to  educate  our  children,  with  a  particular  reference  to  the 
object  of  the  mission ;  and  if  any  expense  be  necessary  or  expedient  for  this 
purpose,  it  shall  be  defrayed  from  the  mission  fund. 

8  All  appropriations  from  the  mission  fund  shall  be  made  by  a  majority  of 
the  missionary  brethren  united  in  this  compact ;  subject,  however,  to  the  in- 
spection of  our  patrons,  the  Board. 

A.  JUDSON. 
GEORGE  II.  HOUGH. 

N.  B.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  observe,  that  the  above  regulations  have  a 
prospective  view,  being  intended  for  the  signature  of  more  than  two. 

Rangoon,  Oct.  21,  1816. 


163 

Extracts  from   the   3  fission  Records. 

October  22,  1816.  Agreed,  that  while  no  expense  is  incurred  for  house- 
rent,  the  monthly  appropriation  for  food  and  clothing,  and  other  common  ex- 
penses of  a  personal  nature,  be  the  same  as  proposed  by  the  Serampore  brethren, 
in  the  case  of  Mr.  Judson,  viz  one  hundred  and  thirty  rupees,  payable  in  Ben- 
gal, for  a  man  and  wife,  and  ten  for  a  child;  thus  making  the  monthly  allow- 
ance for  two  couples  and  three  children,  which  now  compose  the  mission  family, 
two  hundred  and  ninety  rupees.  This  sum  is  intended  for  personal  subsistence, 
independently  of  all  public  and  extraordinary  expenses,  which  are  to  be  de- 
frayed by  special  appropriations. 

Agreed  also,  that  all  expenses  attending  the  press,  shall  be  referred  to  a 
separate  account,  and  defrayed  from  monies  granted  for  the  purpose  by  the 
Board. 

A.  JUDSON. 
GEORGE  H.  HOUGH. 

From  yir.  Judson  to  Air.  Rice. 

Rangoox,  August  3d,  1816: 

MY   DEAR  BROTHER   RICE, 

I  hope  you  will  believe  that  the  reason  of  my  writing  to  you  only  one  short 
letter  hitherto,  was  not  that.  I  had  no  desire  to  write  to  you,  or  that  I  doubted 
whether  a  letter  would  be  very  acceptable  to  you  ;  but  Simply,  because  I  have 
never  till  the  present  time,  had  any  reason  to  hope  that  a  letter  forwarded  from 
this  place,  would  reach  America  before  you  left  it.  From  a  late  letter  of  yours, 
however,  to  Dr.  Carey,  I  conclude  you  will  receive  this 

You  remember,  that  the  furlough  we  gave  you  at  the  Isle  of  France,  extended 
to  two  years  only.  Little  did  we  then  think,  that  three  or  four  years  would 
elapse  before  we  met  again.  I  rejoice,  however,  that  you  are  able  to  give  so 
good  an  account  of  your  time.  1  congratulate  you  on  the  success  which  has 
crowned  your  labours  in  America.  It  really  surpasses  my  highest  expectations. 
Still  permit  me  to  hope,  that,  as  you  are  spending  the  prime  of  your  life  in  such 
valuable  services,  in  America,  for  the  heathen,  you  will  give  them  your  personal 
services  in  your  old  age;  and  that  we  sln.ll  unite'  our  prai  ers  and  labours,  and 
finally  lay  our  bones  together,  in  an  Eastern  clime. 

Since  you  left  us,  we  have  been  called  to  rejoice  and  to  mourn  over  a  dear 
child.  He  died  three  months  ago,  at  the  age  of  eight  months.  So  that  wre  are 
now  reduced  to  our  former  solitary  situation.  We  are,  however,  daily  expect* 
ing  brother  Hough  and  family.  He  h:;s  already  sent  round  a  press  and  types, 
which  have  arrived  in  the  river,  and  expects  to  follow  himself,  the  first  oppoitu- 
nity.  1  do  not  doubt  that  you  have  written  me  b>  'Mr.  Hough,  but  I  have  not  re- 
ceived any  letters  that  he  may  have  brought  from  America. 

I  have  been  almostblindfor  fc-mr  months  past,  afflicted  at  the  same  time  with 
a  nervous  affection  in  the  head,  which  has  unfitted  me  for  any  exertion.  I  was 
taken  in  the  midst  of  the  last  hot  season,  on  the  eleventh  of  April.  I  have  at 
times  almost  despaired  of  recovery,  but  have  been  a  little  better  lately.  I  was 
on  the  point  of  sailing  to  Bengal,  when  the  news  of  brother  Hough's  arrival 
there,  induced  me  to  wait  until  he  should  be  settled  here,  when  I  could  leave 
more  conveniently. 

I  have  completed  a  grammar  of  the  Burman  language,  which  1  hope  will  be  use- 
ful to  you;  also  a  tract  which  I  hope  to  get  printed  as  soon  as  Mr.  Rough  arrives. 

If  any  ask  what  success  1  meet  with  among  the  natives  ? — teil  them  to  look  at 
Otaheite,  \vhere  the  missionaries  laboured  nearly  twenty  years,  and  not  meeting 
with  the  slightest  success,  began  to  be  neglected  by  all  the  Christian  world,  and 
the  very  name  of  Otaheite  began  to  be  a  shame  to  the  cause  of  missions ;  and 
now  the  blessing  begins  to  come.  Tell  them  to  look  at  Bengal  also,  where  Dr. 
Thomas  had  been  labouring  seventeen  years,  that  is,  from  1783  to  1800,  before 
the  first  convert,  Kriskno  was  baptised.  'When  a  few  converts  are  onc<;  made, 
things  move  on.     But  it  requires  a  much  longer  time  than  I  have  bet n  here,  to 


164 

make  a  first  impression  on  a  heathen  people.  If  they  ask  again,  what  prospect  of 
ultimate  success  is  there  ? — tell  them,  as  much  as  that  there  is  an  Almighty  and 
faithful  God  who  v-iH  perform  his  promises,  and  no  more  If  this  does  not  satisfy 
them,  beg  them  to  let  me  stay  and  try  it,  and  to  let  you  come,  and  to  give  us 
our  bread;  or  if  the/  are  unwilling  to  risk  their  bread  on  such  a  forlorn  hope  as 
has  nothing  but  the  word  or  Gon  to  sustain  it,  beg  of  them  at  least  not  to  pre- 
vent others  from  giving  us  bread.  And  if  we  live  some  twenty  or  thirty  years, 
thev  may  hear  from  us  again. 

l"have  already  written  many  things  home  about  Rangoon.  But  one  large  par- 
cel which  I  forwarded  to  Bengal  is  lost,  I  fear,  not  having  had  any  accounts  of 
it.  This  climate  is  good,  better  than  any  other  part  of  the  East.  But  it  is  a 
most  filthy,  wretched  place.  Missionaries  must  not  calculate  on  the  least  com- 
fort, but  what  they  find  in  one  another  and  their  work.  However,  if  a  ship 
was  lying  in  the  river,  ready  to  convey  me  to  any  part  of  the  world  I  should 
choose,  and  that  too  with  the  entire  approbation  of  all  my  Christian  friends,  I 
would  prefer  dying  to  embarking  This  is  an  immense  field;  and  since  the 
Serumpore  missionaries  have  left  it,  it  is  wholly  thrown  on  the  hands  of  the 
American  Baptists.  If  we  desert  it,  the  blood  of  the  Burmans  will  be  required 
of  hs.  Nancy  unites  with  me  in  affectionate  remembrance ;  we  both  long  to 
see  you  again.  Yours  ever, 

A.  JUDSON. 

From  the  same. 

Rangoon,  November  14th,  1816. 

MY    BELOVED  BROTHER  RICE, 

In  encouraging  other  young  men  to  come  out  as  missionaries,  do  use  the 
greatest  caution.  You  have  hit  right  in  brother  Hougb.  But  one  wrong-headed, 
conscientiously  obstinate  fellow,  would  ruin  us.  Humble,  quiet,  persevering 
men;  men  of  sound,sterling  talents  (though  perhaps'not  brilliant,)  of  decent  accom- 
plishments, and  some  natural  aptitude  to  acquire  a  language  ;  men  of  an  amiable, 
yielding  temper,  willing  to  take  the  lowest  place,  to  be  the  least  of  ail,  and  the 
servant  of  all ;  men  who  enjoy  much  closet  religion,  who  live  near  to  God,  and 
are  willing  to  suffer  all  things  for  Christ's  sake,  without  being  proud  of  it — these 
are  the  men,  &c  But  O,  now  unlike  to  ;h:.s  description  is  the  writer  of  it ! 
Still,   however,  I  am,   with  never-ceasing  affection, 

Your  most  affectionate  brother  in  the  Lord, 

A.  JUDSON. 


The  two  brethren,  James  Colman  and  Edward  W.  Wheelock,  accepted  by  the 
Board  for  the  Burman  mission,  will  soon,  with  permission  of  Providence,  take 
their  departure  from  this  country.  It  is  hopeu,  too,  that  the  time  is  not  far 
distant,  when  others  will  follow ;  particularly  some  one  who,  like  Luke  "  the 
beloved  physician"  of  apostolic  times,  shall  further  the  work  of  the  Lord  by 
an  acquaintance  with  the  healing  art.  The  testimony  of  their  tutor,  Mr. 
Chaplin,  it  is  proper  here  to  insert.  After  giving  a  particular  statement 
of  the  proficiency  made  by  them  respectively  in  literature,  he  thus  con- 
cludes : — "  In  closing  this  communication  I  beg  leave  to  add  that,  as  far  as 
the  acquaintance  I  have  had  with  them  enables  me  to  judge,  they  are  modest, 
amiable,  and  pious  young  men  ;  judicious  in  their  views,  and  prudent  in  their 
conduct ;  and  they  both  appear  to  me  to  be  uncommonly  promising  as  candi- 
dates for  the  Gospel  ministry."  Their  own  letters  of  application  to  the  Board 
follow  : 

Dan  vers,  April  5th,  1817. 

HONOURED  FATHERS    IN  CHRIST, 

It  is  with  a  deep  sense  of  my  umvorthiness  to  engage  in  the  service  of  God, 
and  my  insufficiency  for  it,  that  I  now  address  you.  May  God  direct  my  pen, 
and  enable  me  to  write  in  such  a  manner  as  shall  afford  you  satisfaction. 


I  am  a  youth  ;  I  shall  be  21  years  of  age  if  T  live  till  next  July ;  have  enter- 
tained a  hope  in  the  divine  mercy  between  5  and  6  years  ;  am  a  member  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Baldwin's  church. ;  have  been  licensed  to  preach  "  the  unsearchable 
riches  of  Chnst."  I  am  under  the  patronage  of  the  Boston  Baptist  Foreign 
Missionary  Society,  which,  for  more  than  two  years  past,  has  supported  me  in 
Danvers,  under  the  instruction  of  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Chaplin.  My  mind  has 
long  been  deeply  impressed  with  the  glorious  work  of  evangelizing  the  heathen  ; 
and  1  have  long  felt  a  settled  conviction  that,  should  the  Lord  be  pleased  to 
grant  me  an  opportunity,  it  will  be  my  indispensable  duty  to  engage  in  this  ar- 
duous, this  ail-important  work.  From  the  commencement  of  my  Christian  ex- 
perience, my  mind  has  been  deeply  affected  with  the  deplorable  state  of  the 
poor  heathen.  Nearly  three  years  since  I  wrote  two  letters  to  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Staughton,  who  was  the  instrument  employed  by  a  gracious  God  to  awaken 
my  attention  to  the  things  which  belong  to  my  everlasting  peace.  In  those  let- 
ters I  stated  my  Christian  experience,  my  exercises  relative  to  preaching,  and 
those  also  relative  to  going  to  the  heathen.  As  Dr.  S.  if  you  request  it,  will,  I 
trust,  favour  you  witli  those  communications,  it  will  be  needless  for  me,  at  this 
time,  to  be  minute  upon  the  subjects  to  which  they  relate.  My  mind  has  ever 
remained  as  it  was  when  I  wrote  him,  except  that  my  desire  to  be  employed  as 
a  missionary  to  the  heathen,  and  my  devotedness  to  the  cause  of  missions,  have, 
I  trust,  much  increased.  Indeed,  language  fails  me  when  I  attempt  to  describe 
my  feelings  on  this  subject.     "  Thought  is  poor,  and  poor  expression." 

To  you,  honoured  fathers,  is  my  mind  directet1,  as  to  those  who,  under  God, 
must  decide  my  case.  To  you  I  offer,  freely  and  joyfully  offer  myself,  to  be- 
come your  missionary,  to  aid  those  already  under  your  patronage,  in  turning 
the  poor  Burmans  "  from  idols,  to  serve  the  living  and  true  God."  And,  O!  if 
it  is  consistent,  that  one  so  unworthy,  and -so  unqualified  as  myself,  should  en- 
gage in  this  glorious  work,  deny  me  not,  I  beseech  you,  the  unspeakable  privi- 
lege ;  deny  me  not  the  fondest,  the  most  ardent  desire  of  my  soul  that  can,  in 
this  world,  be  gratified.  To  deny  me  this,  would  be  to  deprive  me  of  the 
greatest  happiness  which,  in  this  world,  I  can  possibly  enjoy.  I  had  rather  be 
a  missionary  of  the  Cross  than  a  king  on  a  throne.  Let  the  men  of  this  world 
possess  its  glittering  toys  ;  let  the  miser  grasp  his  cankered  gold ;  let  the  vo- 
luptuary enjoy  his  sordid  pleasures  ;  let  the  ambitious  ascend  to  the  pinnacle  of 
earthly  honour ;  but  let  me  enjoy  the  sweet  satisfaction  of  directing  the  poor 
pagans  to  "  the  Lamb  of  God."  I  court  no  greater  good;  1  desire  no  greater 
joy;  I  seek  no  greater  honour.  To  Burmah  would  I  go;  in  Burmah  would  I 
live  ;  in  Burmah  would  I  toil ;  in  Burmah  would  I  die ;  and  in  Burmah  would 
I  be  buried. 

Honouredffathers,  I  leave  myself  at  your  disposal,  willing,  if  you  desire  it, 
to  sail  immediately  for  Burmah  ;  and  praying,  ardently  praying,  the  Great  Head 
of  the  Church  to  direct  you  to  the  adoption  of  such  measures,  respecting  my- 
self and  the  Zion  of  God,  as  shall  best  promote  his  glory,  and  the  salvation  of 
the  heathen, 

I  am  your  very  unworthy, 

EDWARD  W.  WHEFLOCK. 

P.  S.  For  a  knowledge  of  my  character,  and  literary  attainments,  I  refer  you 
to  the  communication  made  you  by  my  highly  esteemed  tutor. 

Danvers,  April  l2th,  1817. 

HONOURED  FATHERS  TN  CHRIST, 

While  duty  and  inclination  prompt  me  to  lay  before  you  a  statement  of  my 
feelings  with  reference  to  becoming  a  missionary  to  the  heathen  world,  a  sense 
of  my  great  unworthiness  and  insufficiency  seems  to  forbid  the  attempt.  Did 
usefulness  wholiv  depend  on  extensive  knowledge,  or  superior  talent,  1  should 
for  ever  despair  ot  gratifying  the  most  ardent  desire  of  my  soul.  Bui  God  has, 
in  every  age,  confounded  the  wisdom  of  this  world,  by  employing  the  weakest 


166 

instruments  to  accomplish  the  greatest  designs.  Weak  in  myself,  I  desire  to 
rely  on  Him  who  has  said,  "  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world  " 

Permit  me  to  state  that,  in  the  fall  of  1805,  I  was  baptised  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Baldwin,  and  admitted  into  his  church.  At  that  time  [  was  eleven  years  of  age. 
I  continued  under  his  pastoral  care  until  the  Third  Baptist  Church  in  Boston 
was  formed,  when  I  became  a  member  of  it.  About  two  years  since  I  received 
a  license  to  preach  Ihe  Gospel.  From  that  to  the  present  time,  I  have  been  fa- 
voured with  the  instructions  of  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Chaplin,  of  Danvers,  through 
the  assistance  of  tin;  Baptist  Massachusetts  Education  Society. 

Soon  after  my  conversion  to  God,  I  fell  into  a  cold,  indifferent  state  of  mind. 
In  this  state  I  continued  for  two  or  three  years.  At  length  I  was  aroused  from 
my  stupidity  ,  and,  after  many  painful  exercises  on  account  of  my  wanderings 
from  God,  was  favoured  again  with  the  light  of  his  countenance.  It  was  not 
long  after  this  period  that  the  Memoirs  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Pearce  were  put  into 
my  hands.  I  read  the  whole  with  much  interest ;  but  no  part  made  so  deep  an 
impression  upon  my  mind  as  that  which  stated  his  exercises  in  relation  to  the 
heathen  world.  At  that  time  1  had  no  idea  of  preaching  ;  but  my  desire  to  be 
useful  to  the  heathen  was  so  great,  that  I  actually  formed  a  resolution  to  go 
among  them.  I  was  confident  that  nothing  could  give  me  more  satisfaction 
than  to  point  to  "  the  Lamb  of  God  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world." 
Soon  after  this  I  read  Mr.  Kicherer's  Narrative  of  his  Mission  to  Africa.  This 
added  fresh  fuel  to  the  fire  already  kindled  in  my  bosom.  I  could  not  conceal 
my  feelings  any  longer,  but  related  them  to  several  of  my  friends.  Two  years 
after  these  impressions  were  first  made,  my  attention  was  called  to  the  subject 
of  the  Christian  ministry.  It  often  appeared  to  me  that  I  could  never  preach 
in  my  own  country;  but  I  thought-it  would  give  me  the  greatest  joy  to  de- 
clare the  glad  tidings  of  mercy  to  the  miserable  heathen.  At  that  time,  how- 
ever, no  Foreign  Mission  Society  was  formed  in  tke  United  States.  Oceans 
roll.d  between  myself  and  India,  and  I  heard  no  friendly  voice  saying,  "  this  is 
the  way,  walk  ye  in  it."  I  was  led  to  suspect  my  exercises,  and  to  conclude 
that  they  did  not  proceed  from  the  Holy  Spirit;  for,  said  I,  he  will  never  give 
desires  which  cannot  be  gratified.  This  conclusion  plunged  my  mind  into 
darkness.  Mouth  after  month  passed  away,  and  I  enjoyed  but  little  commu- 
nion with  God,  and  had  no  satisfaction  in  ms  sanctuary,  or  in  the  company  of 
Christians.  However,  amidst  the  bustle  of  business,  this  subject  used  frequently 
to  press  into  my  mind,  and  engage  my  serious  and  deep  attention.  But  I  saw 
no  beauty  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  until  I  felt  not  only  a  willingness,  but  an 
ardent  desire,  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  the  perishing  heathen.  This  change  in 
my  feelings  was  occasioned  by  viewing  the  miserable  condition  oft^?  Penob- 
scot Indians.  Their  ignorance,  intemperance,  and  extreme  wretchedness, 
deeply  affected  my  heart.  The  flame  of  missionary  zeal  which,  for  a  consider- 
able time,  had  much  abated,  now  burned  with  fresh  ardour  ;  and  I  was  trans- 
ported with  the  idea  that,  at  some  future  period,  I  should  be  the  highly  favoured 
instrument  of  leading  pagans  to  a  knowledge  of  Jesus. 

When  the  period  drew  near  in  which  I  was  to  exhibit  before  the  church,  I 
determined  to  relate  my  exercises  with  reference  to  the  mission.  Indeed,  I 
went  so  far  as  to  fix  upon  a  mode  of  address  relative  to  the  subject.  But  I  was 
deterred  by  a  sense  of  my  own  unworthiness  and  insufficiency,  and  also  by  a 
strong  suspicion  that  the  church  would  not  approbate  me  to  preach,  even  m  my 
own  country.  Soon  after  my  removal  to  Danvers,  I  was  much  tried  as  it  re- 
spected my  duty.  The  thought  of  exchanging  my  native  land  for  foreign 
climes  ;  the  -friends  of  my  choice,  the  guides  of  my  youth,  and  my  dear  rela- 
tions, for  those  who  are  strangers  to  myself,  and  to  that  religion  which  I  profess 
to  believe,  often  filled  me  with  distress.  I  took  into  consideration  that,  before 
I  could  reach  the  piace  of  my  destination,  oceans  must  be  traversed ;  that  if  I 
survived  the  perils  of  the  deep,  I  should  have  to  associate  with  a  people  whose 
"  ver.  thoughts  run  in  channels  diverse  from"  mine,  and  whose  language,  "un- 
couth" as  it  is,  must  be  studied  by  me  for  several  years  before  I  could  preach  to 
them  ;  and  that  in  Burmah  my  life  would  be  in  constant  jeopardy. 

It  was  with  these  feelings,  and  with  these  prospects  before  me,  that  I  asked 


167 

myself  the  question,  is  it  possible  that  all  my  exercises  on  this  subject  are  for 
nothing  ?  I  could  not  answer  in  the  affirmative.  When  1  considered,  that  for 
six  years  these  impressions  had  fastened  upon  my  mind,  I  was  led  to  the  con- 
clusion that  the  Lord  had  work  for  me  to  do  in  India  ;  a?;d  I  conceived  that  it 
would  be  acting  contrary  to  duty  unless  I  represented  my  desires  and  feelings 
to  my  brethren.  Immediately  upon  coming  to  this  conclusion,  lhad  an  anima- 
ting view  of  the  sufficiency  of  God.  Thought  I,  he  has  promised  to  give  strength 
equal  to  my  day,  and  shall  I  distrust  Him  ?  He  has  commanded  his  servants  to 
go  into  all  the  world,  and  lias  engaged  never  to  forsake  them.  Why  then  should 
difficulties  :ippal  me  ?  why  should  1  not  endure  them  as  well  as  others  !  I'.tul 
gloried  in  tribulations;  O  that  I  may  have  the  privilege  of  suffering  for  Christ 
in  India  1 

Since  I  came  to  the  above  conclusion,  my  mind  has  been  unwavering.  It  is 
true,  mountains,  at  times,  have  ari-en  between  myself  and  the  eastern  world. 
My  way  has  been  hedged  up  by  difficulties  which,  to  the  eye  of  human  reason, 
might  appear  insurmountable.  But  duty  has  constantly  appeared  the  same. 
Indeed,  I  esteem  missionary  work  not  only  as  a  duty  for  me  to  perform,  but  as 
a  privilege  for  me  to  enjoy  :  a  privilege  which  I  value  more  than  the  riches  of 
the  earth.  Only  give  me  the  rich  satisfaction  of  holding  up  the  torch  of  truth 
in  the  benighted  regions  of  Burmah !  This  is  the  object  which  lies  nearest 
my  heart ;  for  this  I  can  cheeriuUy  leave  my  native  land,  and  the  bosom  of  my 
beloved  friends.  I  pant  to  proclaim  the  Gospel  to  those  who  are  ignorant  of  it ; 
to  present  to  their  minds  that  firm  foundation  on  which  my  own  hopes  of  eternal 
happiness  are  built.  1  look  to  Burmah  as  my  home,  and  as  the  field  of  my  fu- 
ture toils.  To  the  wretched  inhabitants  of  that  empire  I  long  to  present  the 
Bible,  the  fountain  of  knowledge,  and  to  direct  their  wandering  steps  to  the 
great  Shepherd  and  B  shop  of  souls.  Nor  can  I  refrain  from  cherishing  the 
hope,  that  my  feeble  labours  among  ihem  will  he  crowned  with  the  blessing-  of 
heaven.  Some,  I  trust,  will  be  induced  to  forsake  the  worship  of  ldois,  and 
bow  the  knee  to  him  on  whose  vesture  and  thigh  is  written  "  King  of  k\ngs, 
and  Lord  of  lords."  Prompted,  as  I  believe,  by  a  deep  sei  se  of  the  worth  of 
souls,  and  by  the  command  of  our  blessed  Saviour,  who  says,  "  Go  ye  into  all 
the  world,  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature  ;"  and  encouraged  by  1  is 
promise  of  constant  assistance  and  direction  to  his  servants,  I  voluntarily  and 
joyfully  offer  myself  to  be  your  missionary  to  the  Bum  an  empire.  May  the 
Lord  preside  over  your  deliberations,  and  grant  me,  if  it  can  be  consistent  with 
his  holy  will,  the  unspeakable  happiness  of  proclaiming  the  love  of  Jesus  to  the 
miserable  heathen. 

With  much  respect,  I  remain,  though  very  unworthy, 
Yours,  &c. 

JAMES  COLMAN. 


INTELLIGENCE 

From  the  English  Ba/itist  Mission  in  India. 

The  subsequent  extracts,  containing  several  facts  of  a  most  interesting  nature, 
will,  it  is  believed,  be  read  with  lively  interest : 

To  the  Baptist  Board  of  Missions. 

Serampore,  June  25,   18  16. 

»CAR  BRETHREN, 

We  have  seen,  with  peculiar  joy,  the  attention  of  our  deal  brethren  through- 
out  the  whole  continent  of  America,  excited  to  the  state  of  the  heathen,  who 
have  indeed  been  given,  in  the  Divine  covenant,  to  the  Redeemer,  for  an  everlast- 
ing possession.  The  indifference  formerly  felt  respecting  the  extension  of  that 
kingdom,  which  is  the  subject  of  all  prophecy,  of  all  dispensations,  and  for  the 
universal  spread  of  which  the  world  itself  is  k-.pt  in  existence,  is  a  reflection 
which  ought  to  cover  every  one,  whose  song  is  "Crown  hrm  Lord  of  all,"  with 


468 

confusion  of  face.  We  were  too  long  absorbed  in  the  affairs  of  individual  so- 
cieties, when  all  the  prophecies,  ami  all  the  promises,  as  well  as  attachment  to 
Him  who  is  to  be  called  "  the  God  of  tbe  whole  earth,"  should  have  led  our 
devotions  to  the  salvation  of  the  whole  world,  and  filled  our  contemplations 
with  the  delightful  scenes  on  which  the  mind  of  Isaiah  dwelt  with  so  much 
rapture. 

We  rejoice  to  see  the  American  churches  making  this  a  common  cause,  and 
that  means  have  been  taken  to  unite  all  their  energies  in  the  hands  of  so  respect- 
able a  body  or'  pious  ministers,  &.c.  We  now  send  our  congratulations  and 
most  fervent  wishes  for  the  success  of  your  efforts.  >f -y  many  thousand  souls, 
each  more  precious  than  the  whole  material  system,  recovered  to  a  state  of 
endless  blessedness,  be  your  certain,  ample,  and  imperishable  reward. 

Should  Divine  Providence  give  you  favour  in  the  eyes  of  the  Burman  govern- 
ment, as  we  hope  it  will,  that  empire  st  uuls  in  great  and  pressing  need  of  many 
more  missionaries;  and  we  would  n  command  you  to  send,  as  soon  as  possible, 
to  other  places,  as  to  Siam,  Basseh,  Ummurapore,  Ava,  Marlaban,  &c.  By 
thus  confi.iing  your  present  efforts  to  this  empire,  the  languages  of  which  have, 
no  doubt,  a  strong  affinity,  your  agents  wdi  form  a  united  phalanx  Having  an 
immense  people  of  the  same  manners,  prejudices,  r  digion,  and  government,  as 
their  object;  and  being  near  each  otiier,  and  engaged  in  the  same  country,  the 
experience  and  acquirements  of  each  will  come  into  the  common  stock,  and 
bear  an  ample  interest.  They  will  be  abie  mutually  to  give  solid  and  matured 
advice  ;  and  in  cases  of  removal  by  death,  to  supply  the  loss  of  those  gonr  to 
receive  their  great  reward.  We  would  strongly  recommend,  that  one  or  more, 
who  may  hereafter  come  out,  obtain  a  competent  knowledge  of  med'eine.  Per- 
haps missions  in  no  Eastern  country  need  so  much  all  the  wisdom,  and  advice, 
and  mutual  help,  which  missionaries  can  supply  to  each  other,  as,  from  the 
despotic  and  capricious  character  of  its  government,  that  in  the  Burman  em- 
pire  does. 

The  attempts  of  our  Society  in  this  empire,  have  ended  in  the  transfer  of  the 
mission  to  brother  Judson,  and  those  from  you  who  ma\  join  him  ;  brother 
Felix  Carey,  our  last  missionary  at  Rangoon,  having  gone  into  the  service  of  his 
Burman  majesty.  Something,  however,  has  been  done.  A  .Mission-house  has 
been  built;  the  language  has  been  opened  ;  a  grammar  printed  ;  materials  for  a 
dictionary  formed  ;  a  small  part  of  the  New  Testament  printed,  and  a  number  of 
copies  put  into  the  hands  of  the  natives. 

We  know  not  what  your  immediate  expectations  are  relative  to  the  Burman 
empire  ;  but  we  hope  your  views  are  not  confined  to  the  immediate  conversion  of 
the  natives,  by  the  preaching  of  the  Word.  Could  a  church  of  converted  na- 
tives be  obtained  at  Rangoon,  it  might  exist  for  a  while,  and  be  scattered,  or 
perish  for  want  of  addicions.  From  all  we  have  seen  hitherto,  we  are  ready  to 
think,  that  the  dispensations  of  Providence  point  to  labours  that  may  operate, 
indeed,  more  slowly  on  the  population,  but  more  effectually  in  the  end  ;  as 
knowledge,  once  put  into  fermentation,  will  not  only  influence  the  part  where  it 
is  first  deposited,  but  leaven  the  whole  lump.  The  slow  progress  of  conversion 
in  such  a  mode  of  teaching  the  nations,  may  not  be  so  encouraging,  and  may  re- 
quire, in  all,  more  faith  and  patience ;  but  it  appears  to  have  been  the  process 
of  things,  in  the  progress  of  the  reformation  during  the  reigns  of  Henry,  Ed- 
ward, Elizabeth,  James,  and  Charles.  And  should  the  work  of  evangelizing 
India  be  thus  slow  and  silently  progressive,  which,  however,  considering  the 
age  of  the  world,  is  not  perhaps  very  likely,  still  the  grand  result  will  amply 
recompense  us,  and  you,  for  all  our  toils.  We  are  sure  to  take  the  fortress,  if 
we  can  but  persuade  oursedves  to  sit  down  long  enough  before  it :  "  We  shall 
reap  if  we  faint  not." 

And  then,  very  dear  brethren,  when  it  shall  be  said  of  the  seat  of  our  labours, 
the  infamous  swinging-post  is  no  longer  erected ;  the  widow  burns  no  more  on 
the  funeral  pile ;  the  obscene  dances  and  songs  are  seen  and  heard  no  more ;  the 
gods  are  thrown  to  the  moles  and  to  the  bats,  and  Jesus  is  known  as  the  God  of 
the  whole  land ;  the  poor  Hindoo  goes  no  more  to  the  Ganges  to  be  washed  from 
his  filthiness,  but  to  the  fountain  opened  for  sin  and  uncleanliness  ;  the  temples 
are  forsaken ;  the  crowds  say,  let  us  go  up  to  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  he  shall 


1439 

teach  us  of  his  ways,  and  we  will  walk  in  liis  statutes  ;  the  anxious  Hindoos  no 
more  consume  their  property,  their  Strength,  and  their  lives,  in  vain  pilgrimages, 
but  they  come  at  once  "  to  Him  who  can  save  to  the  uttermost ;"  the  sick  and 
the  dying  are  no  more  dragged  to  the  Ganges,  but  look  to  the  Lamb  of  God, 
and  commit  their  souls  into  his  faithful  hands  ;  the  children,  no  more  sacrificed 
to  idols,  are  become  the  seed  of  the  Lord,  that  he  may  be  glorified  ;  the  public 
morals  are  improved  ;  the  language  of  Canaan  is  learnt ;  benevolent  societies  are 
formed;  civilization  and  salvation  walk  arm  in  arm  together;  the  desert  blos- 
soms ;  the  earth  yields  her  increase  ;  angels  and  glorified  spirits  hover  with  joy 
over  India,  and  carry  ten  thousand  messages  of  love  from  the  Lamb  in  the  midst 
of  the  throne;  and  redeemed  souls  from  the  different  villages,  towns  and  cities 
of  this  immense  country,  constantly  a>ld  to  the  number,  and  swell  the  chorus  of 
the  redeemed"  unto  Him  that  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own 
blood,  unto  HIM  be  the  glory  ;" — when  this  grand  result  of  the  labours  of  God's 
servants  in  India  shall  be  realized,  shall  we  then  think  that  we  have  laboured  in 
vain,  and  spent  our  strength  for  naught } — Surely  not.  Well,  the  decree  is  gone 
forth  !  "  My  word  shall  prosper  in  the  thing  whereunto  I  sent  it." 

We  shall  be  glad  to  render  you,  and  our  brethren  in  the  Burman  empire, 
every  assistance  in  our  power.  \\  e  have  always  met  the  drafts  of  brother  Jud- 
son,  and  have  sent  repeated  supplies,  various  articles  of  food,  Sec.  to  meet  the 
wants  of  our  dear  brother  and  sister  there. 

Hoping  to  hear  from  you  by  every  opportunity,  we  are,  very  dear  brethren, 
Your  affectionate  brethren  and  fellow-labourers 
In  the  kingdom  of  Christ, 

W.  CAREY. 

J.  MARSHMAN. 

W.  WARD. 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Dr.  Carey y  dated  July  23,    1816. 

"  I  am,  as  usual,  quite  busy  with  the  translations  of  the  Word,  which  have 
now  become  so  numerous,  that  the  mere  reading  of  the  proof-sheets  would  oc- 
cupy the  whole  of  a  person's  time.  It  is  true,  my  acquaintance  with  the  Sung- 
sknt  language  makes  it  easy  for  me  to  acquire  a  competent  knowledge  of  all 
those  derived  from  it;  especially  as  nine  out  of  ten  of  the  words  current  in 
them  are  either  entirely  pure  Sungskrit,  or  so  evidently  derived  from  it  as  to 
be  easily  recognized.  All  the  versions,  except  five,  are  of  this  sort.  That, 
therefore,  which  would  be  hard  labour  to  any  person  about  to  begin  the 
study  of  any  one  of  these  languages,  without  a  previous  knowledge  of  the 
source  from  which  it  is  derived,  and  which  could  not  in  that  way  be  extended 
to  many  of  them,  is  to  me  easy,  being  previously  acquainted  with  seven- 
eighths  of  the  words.  I  consider  this  as  a  circumstance  for  which  I  am  bound 
to  be  grateful  to  God,  as  it  enables  me  to  carry  on  this  work  with  much  greater 
certainty,  and  to  a  much  greater  extent,  than  I  could  possibly  have  done  with- 
out it. 

"The  Pushto,  spoken  by  the  Affghans,  undoubtedly  the  remains  of  the  ten 
tribes,  is  on  that  account  highly  interesting  to  me.  It  abounds  in  Hebrew  and 
Arabic  words,  but  contains  also  some  of  Sungskrit  origin,  and  many  .vhich  are 
probably  received  from  the  Tartars,  who  inhabit  the  countries  north  of  them. 
Much  indeed  shall  I  rejoice,  if  J  may  be  successful  in  giving  that  portion  of  the 
ancient  people  of  God,'  the  Word  of  truth  in  their  own  language." 

From  (he  same — dated  December  6,  1816. 
"I  am  now  recovering  from  a  severe  bilious  fever  which  brought  me  to  the 
brink  of  the  grave  ;  and  am  still  so  weak  as  to  be  scarcely  able  to  write.  The 
Lord  has  had  mercy  on  me,  and  I  am  enabled  now  again  to  engage  in  my  be- 
loved work,  though  close  application  is  absolutely  forbidden  by  the  physicians, 
lours,  my  dear  brother,  is  the  land  of  wonders.     The  great  things  which  God, 

X 


170 

by  his  Spirit,  is  doing  in  the  United  States,  are  truly  astonishing,  and  call  at  once 
for  the  most  grateful  praises,  and  the  most  entire  confidence  in  all  his  gracious 
promises. 

"  Among  these  things  must  be  reckoned  the  missionary  exertions  now  mak- 
ing ;  and  the  Peace  Society  lately  established  at  New-York,  and  olher  places  j 
a  society  with  whose  object  my  heart  most  cordially  coincides,  and  which  must, 
through  the  Divine  assistance,  which  will  assuredly  be  granted,  be  finally  suc- 
cessful in  the  accomplishment  of  its  ultimate  object. 

"  To  me  it  is  a  matter  of  much  joy,  that  the  churches  in  Kentucky,  and  other- 
parts,  insist  on  a  mission  to  the  West.  The  American  Indians  are  undoubtedly 
committed  exclusively  to  the  American  churches;  and  I  trust  the  work  of  pub- 
lishing the  Gospel  to  them,  setting  up  schools  for  their  instruction,  translating 
the  Word  of  God  into  their  languages,  and  other  things  necessary  to  their  faith, 
civilization,  and  comfort,  will  be  engaged  in  with  eagerness,  and  persevered  in 
with  tenacity,  till  the  great  object  be  accomplished. — Faith  cometh  by  hearing,- 
and  hearing  by  the  Word. 

"  We  live  in  a  land  where  every  thing  around  us  tends  to  freeze  the  warmest 
affections  of  the  mind ;  and  yet  very  much  good  has  been  done  :  many  have 
been  converted  under  the  Word.  There  are  many  churches  in  India,  and  every 
jear  brings  a  considerable  increase  of  labourers  in  the  cause  of  God.  Yet 
all  that  has  been  done  seems  lost  in  the  vast  population  who  fear  not  God ; 
and  though  our  brethren,  and  even  churches,  are  scattered  all  over  India,  yet  a 
person,  unacquainted  with  their  local  situations,  might  travel  over  India,  and 
hear  very  little  of  them. 

"  One  favourable  circumstance  in  this  country  is,  the  very  general  attention 
that  has  lately  been  felt  by  most  classes  of  Europeans,  to  the  establishing  of 
schools  for  the  education  of  the  children  of  the  natives.  We  have  a  good  num- 
ber of  these  schools  belonging  to  the  mission,  and  many  are  established  by 
others,  which  promise  to  be  of  great  utility.  Brother  Marshman  has  just 
drawn  up  a  plan  for  these  schools,  which  I  think  an  excellent  one.  Upon  that 
plan  they  may  be  extended  to  every  part  of  India,  if  funds  can  be  obtained,  and 
ensure  instruction  in  reading,  Writing,  grammar,  geography,  astronomy,  general 
philosophy,  and  morals,  for  the  trilling  sum  of  three  rupees  a  year  for  each  lad 
thus  instructed.  This  plan  includes  a  vigorous  superintendence  of  the  schools, 
which  in  every  practicable  instance  will  be  performed  by  pious  men,  who  will 
thereby  have,  innumerable  opportunities  afforded  them  of  recommending  co  the 
children,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  villages  and  towns  where  the  schools  are 
situated,  the  Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God." 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Rev.  Mr.  Rowe,  at  Digah,  near  Pat7ia, 
to  John  Caulchvell,  Esq.  Treasurer  of  the  Board,  Sefitzinber  26th, 
1816. 

"  God  is  evidently  carrying  on  a  great  work  in  this  part  of  the  world,  not- 
withstanding all  the  opposition  which  is  made  by  the  enemies  of  the  cross  of 
Christ.  He  will  give  his  Son  the  heathen  for  his  inheritance,  and  the  uttermost 
parts  of  the  earth  for  his  possession,  f  though  the  rulers  take  counsel  together 
against  the  Lord  and  against  his  anointed.' 

"This  seems,  in  many  respects^  like  another  country,*  compared  with  what 
it  was  when  I  first  came  «ut.  At  that  time,  very  few  had  any  thing  like  the 
tear  of  God  before  their  eyes,  or  who  would  condescend  to  countenance  us  ; 
but  tw.o,  we  find  some  good,  or  at  least  some  well  disposed  men,  at  almost 
every  station,  who  will  open  their  bouses  for  preaching  the  Gospel.  We  meet 
with  many  both  in  the  civil  and  military  departments,  who  declare  themselves 
(>n  the  side  of  Israel's  God  !  Baptist  churches  are  formed  in  the  14th,  24th, 
59di,  and  66th  regiments  of  foot,  and  one  in  the  company  of  artillery.  At  pre- 
sent the  work  appears  to  be  going  on  more  among  Europeans,  than  among 
tl>e  natives.  We  hope,  however,  there  are  tokens  for  good,  as  it  relates  to  the 
heathen.    The  chains  or  idoutuy  are  giving  wat,  and  we  trust  the 


17.1 

time  is  not  distant  when  the  votaries  of  superstition  wiH  be  delivered  from 
their  bondage,  and  brought  into  the  liberty  of  the  Gospel. 

"Our  station  is  situated  within  about  a  mile  of  Dinapore,  a  military  station, 
at  which  we  have  generally  a  European  regiment.  We  have  now  the  21th 
regiment  of  foot  lying  here.  In  the  rear  of  the  barracks  is  a  thatched  place, 
erected  2  or  3  years  ago,  by  the  brethren  in  the  regiment  for  public  worship.. 
This  will  hold  upwards  of  200,  and  we  enjoy  the  privilege  of  preaching  three 
times  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  twice  during  the  week.  It  is  well  fdled,  and  we 
hope  our  labours  have  not  been  in  vain.  We  have  also  leave  to  preach  to  the 
Europeans  in  the  general  hospital.  The  troops  arc  often  moving  in  this  coun- 
try, by  which  we  aiv  subject  to  a  painful  separation  from  our  dear  brethren  in 
the  army.  In  a  general  point  of  view,  however,  perhaps  tills  is  of  advantage  to 
the  common  cause :  our  brethren  have  an  opportunity  of  carrying  the  Gospel 
to  the  places  whither  they  are  sent.  We  have  lately  seen  a  remarkable  in- 
stance  of  this.  The  66th  regiment,  which  was  lying  at  Dinapore,  and  in  which 
we  have  a  number  of  brethren,  was  removed  to  Cawnpore,  a  military  station,  a 
few  hundred  milts  farther  up  the  river.  Here  they  were  quartered  near  the  24th 
regiment  of  dragoons  In  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  nearly  a  hundred  of  them  at- 
tended the  means  of  grace  with  our  brethren,  who  have  reason  to  hope  many  of 
them  are  seeking  salvation  in  earnest.  We  baptised  between  20  and  30  last  year, 
and  31  the  present.  Four  of  the  number  baptised  this  year  are  natives.  We 
have  six  native  schools  around  us,  in  which  about  one  hundred  boys  are  educated. 
This  is  aii  object  of  great  importance  to  the  cause.  I  hope  we  shall  be  enabled 
to  establish  a  greater  number  before  long." 

From  the  Rev.  W.  Robinson,  Java. 

Weltervreden,  Java,  March  5th,  1816. 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER  IN  CHJUST, 

Though  personally  unknown  to  you,  I  shall  make  no  apology  for  troubling 
you  with  these  few  lines. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  hear  that  a  Baptist  Missionary  Society  has  been 
formed  in  America,  and  I  hope  it  will  soon  commence  its  operations,  by  sending 
out  labourers  into  the  Lord's  vineyard.  The  attention  of  our  Society  has  been 
chiefly  turned  to  the  continent  of  India,  which  perhaps  furnishes  the  most  ex- 
tensive field  for  missionary  exertions,  to  be  found  on  the  face  of  the  globe  :  yet 
the  Eastern  islands  ought  not  to  be  overlooked  ;  thev  too  furni-  h  an  interesting 
scene  of  labour,  where  a  great  number  of  faithful  missionaries  may  find  abun- 
dance of  employment.  Here  is  a  great  variety  of  languages,  into  which  every 
friend  of  Jesus  must  wish  the  Word  of  Life  translated ;  but  into  none  of 
these  languages  has  a  translation  ever  been  made,  except  into  the  Malay.  Java 
is  said  to  contain  four  millions  of  people,  Who  speak  three  different  languages  : 
viz.  the  Malay,  the  Soanda,  and  the  Javanese.  I  have  preached  for  nearly  two 
years  in  the  Malayr,  and  brother  Trowt  is  fast  learning  the  Javanese.  Kut  what 
are  two  amongst  four  millions;  to  say  nothing  of  the  vast  population  of  the  isl- 
ands around  us.  Oh  !  that  our  American  brethren  would  "come  over  and  help 
us  !"  this  is  the  request  I  have  to  make,  and  this  is  the  reason  of  my  writing.  We 
should  receive  our  American  brethren,  into  the  same  field  of  labour  with  our- 
selves, with  open  arms ;  with  them  there  would  be  no  competition.  Their  senti- 
ments and  ours  are  the  same,  and  they  would  be  to  us,  in  all  respects,  as  mem- 
bers of  our  own  society. 

It  must  not  be  concealed  that  missions  to  the  Eastern  islands  are  very  expen- 
sive ;  but  this  is  one  reason  why  I  would  press  the  subject  on  our  friends  in 
America,  for  it  seems  that  the  funds  of  our  Society  can  hardly  support  the  ex- 
pense, and  if  this  be  the  case  in  the  beginning  of  the  mission,  how  will  the  work 
be  carried  on,  and  how  will  other  brethren  be  sent  out  to  join  us  ?  Surely  the 
perishing  condition  of  the  natives  of  these  islands  calls  for  your  pity,  and  your 
prompt  attention;  your  funds  are  unexhausted,  and  the  liberality  of  the  Ame- 
rican public  is  yet  unburdened.  To  you  the  inhabitants  of  these  islands  may 
say,  "  save  us  or  we  perish."    Perhaps  the  society  iii  America  might  prefer  a 


175 

field  of  labour,  for  their  missionaries,  separate  from  that  of  the  society  in  Eng- 
land, in  order  that  they  may  form  a  more  correct  estimate  of  the  benefits  of  their 
exertions.  If  such  bu-  their  wish,  tell  them  that  field  of  labour  is  the  Eastern 
islands.  Here  are  nations  which  have  never  been  instructed,  and  languages 
unknown  to  literature,  and  by  means  of  which  not  a  sentence  of  the  Word  of  Life 
has  ever  been  communicated.  It  you  cannot  send  many  brethren,  pray  send 
some,  and  even  one  will  be  better  than  none. 

To  support  a,missionary  and  his  wife  in  the  large  towns,  and  especially  in 
Batavia,  100  dollars  a  month  will  be  necessary.  Should  seven)  live  together, 
much  expense  might  be  saved  j  and  it  is  probable,  that  by  living  in  the  interior, 
a  brother  may  be  supported  for  one-half,  or  at  most  two-third-;  of  that  sum. 
Whoever  come,  should  land  at  Batavia,  that  being  the  most  ctntral  situation  ; 
nor  let  an  opinion  that  Batavia  is  the  grave  of  its  inhabitants,  affright  any  one. 
Batavia  is  doubtless  unhealthy,  but  the  place  where  I  live  is  quite  healthy,  and 
I  should  of  course  render  a  brother  missionary  every  assistance  in  my  power. 
Brother, Trowt  resides  at  Samarang,  the  second  capital  of  Java,  distant  several 
hundreds  of  miles  from  Batavia.  When  a  person  has  arrived  here,  a  residence 
of  a  few  mont  «s  will  afford  him  ample  opportunity  to  obtain  information,  and 
to  determine  on  the  scene  of  his  future  efforts. 

I  cannot  say  much  with  respect  to  the  success  of  our  labours  ;  the  mission  is 
as  yet  in  its  infancy ;  we  must  sow  before  we  reap,  and  preach  much  before  we 
can  expect  to  win  souls  to  Christ.  Amongst  the  English  soldiers,  we  have  met 
with  a  moderate  share  of  success-;  about  thirty  have  been  baptised  since  the 
commencement  of  the  mission.  I  am  engaged  in  a  translation  of  the  four  Gos- 
pels and  the  Acts,  into  the  Malay,  at  the  request  of  the  Java  Bible  Society.  [ 
hope  the  Gospel  of  Matthew  will  soon  be  put  to  press.  Brother  Trowt  intends 
to  make  a  translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  the  Javanese,  as  soon  as  he  has  be- 
come sufficiently  acquainted  with  the  language.  We  apprehend  that  the  trans- 
fer of  the  island  to  the  Dutch,  will  make  no  difference  whatever  to  our  work 
amongst  the  natives. 

The  London  Society  have  sent  three  missionaries  here ;  two  Germans,  and 
one  Dutchman.  The  Dutchman  is  gone  to  Amboyna.  One  of  the  Germans 
has  been  appointed  Dutch  minister  at  Batavia,  and  the  other,  the  best  scholar, 
perhaps,  of  the  three,  has  been  appointed  to  a  similar  situation  at  Samarang. 
Bruckner,  who  is  at  Samarang,  has  declared  himself  a  Baptist,  and  I  expect  will 
soon  be  baptised.*  He  wishes  to  join  our  mission",  and  is  about  to  write  to  Drs. 
Carey  and  Ilvland  to  that  effect. 

I  shall  be  very  happy  to  receive  a  few  lines  from  you  in  answer  to  this.     1  beg 
leave  to  present  my  Christian  love  to  Mrs.  Staughton,  though  unknown. 
1  remain,  my  dear  brother,  yours  in  Christ, 

W.  ROBINSON. 


WESTERN  MISSION. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  Western  frontier  of  the  United  States  exhibits  a' 
mingled,  numerous  population,  composed  of  different  nations,  with  their  off- 
spring. Among,  and  beyond  them,  numerous  tribes  of  the  aborigines  of  the 
country  are  scattered.  The  eyes  of  the  Board,  in  common  with  many  pious 
persons,  have  been  long  and  anxiously  directed  to  that  quarter.  Divine  Pro- 
vidence, it  should  seem,  is  about  to  accomplish  there  its  gracious  designs. 
Two  brethren  have  already  been  solemnly  set  apart  for  this  service.  Their 
letters  of  application  to  the  Board,  and  the  instructions  given  them,  are 
subjoined : 

To  the  Baptist   Board  of  Foreign  Missions. 

Philadelphia,  May  15,   1817. 

REVEREND  FATHERS  AND  BRETHREN, 

Impressed  with  the  importance  of  using  every  exertion  to  impart  the  know- 
ledge of  the  Saviour  to  those  who  are  perishing  for  lack  of  vision ;  and  deeply 

•  Information  of  the  baptism  of  brother  Bruckner  has  been  received. 


173 

realizing  the  responsibility  resting  on  those  who  enter  the  field  of  missionary 
labour,  permit  me  to  lay  before  you  the  following  communication  : 

It  is  about  four  years  since  my  mind  was  led  to  consider  the  great  work 
which  God  is  effecting  by  means  of  missionary  efforts;  and  although  I  did  not 
at  first  presume  to  think  Divine  Providence  would  ever  permit  me  the  happi- 
ness of  sharing  the  toils  and  privations,  and  participating  in  the  pleasures  of 
a  missionary  life,  yet  these  impressions  produced  a  resolution  to  do  all  in  my 
power  to  promote  a  missionary  spirit,  that  others,  more  favoured  than  myself, 
might  be  enabled  to  spend  their  lives  in  the  service.  A  disposition  of  this  kind 
led  me  to  obtain  all  the  information  in  my  power  on  the  subject  of  missions; 
to  inquire  into  the  state  of  the  heathen  world,  and  to  consult  the  prophecies, 
which  "bring  to  view  the  latter  day  glory.  Having,  previous  to  this,  devoted 
myself  to  the  ministry,  and  feeling  under  the  most  weighty  and  solemn  obliga- 
tions to  make  the  spread  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  conversion  of  the  world,  an 
object  of  ardent  and  incessant  pursuit ;  from  a  hearty  desire  to  promote  the 
mission  cause,  I  was  induced  to  inquire  whether  I  ought  not,  personally,  to  en- 
gage in  this  great  undertaking. 

Embarrassments  of  various  kinds,  for  two  years,  prevented  me  from  disclos- 
ing to  any  one  the  trials  of  my  mind.  Nor  was  it  till  the  fall  of  1815,  that  1  was 
enabled  to  decide  as  to  the  path  of  duty.  This  decision  was  made  with  trem- 
bling. However,  the  result  has  issued  in  a  deep  and  strong  conviction  of  mind, 
that  it  is  my  duty  to  devote  the  remainder  of  my  life  to  such  destitute  regions 
of  the  earth,  as  may  be  pointed  out  by  the  holy  providence  of  God. 

I  have  no  very  great  anxiety  in  what  part  of  the  world  my  lot  is  cast ;  but, 
taking  into  consideration  the  circumstances  of  my  family,  and  the  state  of  tilings 
in  the  regions  west  of  the  Missisippi,  I  am  inclined  to  think,  that  in  this  field 
the  greatest  opportunity  would  be  afforded  of  serving  the  cause  of  the  Re- 
deemer. And  although  deeply  sensible  of  much  deficiency  in  qualifications,  I 
proceed  to  offer  myself  to  the  Board  as  their  servant  in  the  cause  of  missions. 
In  this  tender  of  myself,  I  wish  to  have  it  explicitly  understood,  that  I  consider 
my  time,  talents,  and  all  that  I  may  ever  possess,  as  belonging  solely  to  the  mis- 
sionary cause ;  begging  only  the  privilege  of  living  the  life,  and  dying  the 
dcatli  of  a  missionary  of  the  Cross. 

It  is  with  devout  gratitude  to  the  Father  of  mercies,  that  I  acknowledge  his 
hand  in  removing  many  obstacles  that  first  appeared  in  my  way,  and  indulging 
me  with  the  privilege  of  pursuing  my  studies,  especially  the  past  year  ;  and  it 
is  with  much  gratitude  that  I  mention  the  kindness  of  the  Education  Society, 
in  providing  me  with  the  means  of  instruction,  and  in  the  liberality  of  my 
friends  it)  assisting  the  wants  of  my  family  ;  but  more  especially  would  1  hold 
in  grateful  remembrance  the  continued  kindness  of  my  worthy  and  highly  re- 
spected tutor,  Dr.  Staughton,  and  his  family,  with  whom  [have  resided  the  past 
year. 

Believing  that  the  respectable  Board  will  consult  the  best  interest  of  the 
mission;  confiding  in  their  wisdom  and  piety  for  direction,  and  imploring  the 
blessing  of  the  God  of  missions  on  all  your  deliberations, 
I  am,  respected  fathers  and  brethren, 
Yours  for  Jesus'  sake, 

JOHN  M.  PECK. 


To  the  Bajitist  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  for  the  United  States. 

Philadelphia,  1  6th  May,  1817. 

RESPECTED  AND  VERY  DEAR   P.IM.TIIUEV, 

Believing  that  amission  to  the  West  is  about  to  be  undertaken  by  the  Board, 
allow  me,  with  much  deference  and  affection,  to  make  a  tender  of  my  services 
for  that  important  station. 

Feeling  the  awful  responsibility  attached  to  the  missionary  character,  while 
making  this  tender,  I  tremble  and  rejoice.     The  correspondent   impressions  of 


1M 

my  deiir  friend  Mr.  Peck;  the  anxiety  and  expectation  of  the  churches  in  the 
South  anil  in  the  West,  the  deplorable  situation  of  the  heathen,  together  with  a 
full  conviction  of  duty,  make  me,  indeed  willing  to  forsake  all  and  say,  "  J/, -re 
am  I,  send  me."  Should  1  be  indulged  the  happiness  of  becoming  yojir  Mission- 
ary to  the  destitute  inhabitants  of  the  West,  1  am  readv  to  enter  the  field,  when- 
ever God  in  his  providence  may  direct,  and  the  respected  Hoard  of  missions 
deem  ruost  expedient. 

The  summer  of  1815  was  devoted  in  visiting  the  country  from  St.  Genevieve 
to  the  St.  Francis,  which  conduced  in  no  small  degree  to  a  conviction  of  duty, 
and  finally  to  a  fixed  determination  that  if  ever  the  high  satisfaction  were  Offered* 
I  would  gladly  spend  my  life  on  the  shores  of  the  Missisippi,  preaching  the 
Gospel  of  salvation  to  those  whom  I  saw  pursuing  the  paths  of  idolatry,  super- 
stition and  crime. 

I  cannot  deny  myself  the  pleasure  of  informing  you,  that  even  in  that  land  of 
strangers,  I  found  a  few  whom  I  believed  God  had  chosen,  rich  in  faith,  and 
heirs  of  the  kingdom,  and  yet  for  want  of  labourers  in  the  vineyard,  the  vines 
wither,  and  the  promise  of  pleasant  verdure  and  immortal  fruit  pel  ishes  before 
the  wind. 

Here  is  an  inviting  field  for  missionary  labour — to  this  1  look  with  compas- 
sionate impatience,  confident  that  if  ever  the  poor  inhabitants,  buried  in  the 
forests  of  America,  are  reclaimed  from  their  deplorable  alienation  from  the  fold 
of  God,  missionaries  must  be  the  happy  propagators  of  sacred  truth  among  them. 

Persuaded  that  He  who  has  promised  salvation  to  the  heathen,  will  direct 
you  to  that  decision  which  shall  best  promote  His  glory  and  the  salvation  of 
mankind, 

SufTer  me  to  subscribe  myself,  affectionately, 
Yours  in  the  Lord  Jesus, 

JAMES  E.  WELCH. 


Missionaries  set  apart. 

O^  Lord's  day  afternoon,  May  25th,  in  Sansom-street,  Philadelphia,  the 
Rev.  John  M.  Heck,  and  the  Rev.  James  E.  Welch,  were  solemnly  set  apart  for 
a  mission  beyond  the  Missisippi  Dr.  Furman  introduced  the  service  by  singing 
and  prayer,  and  delivered  an  impressive  and  appropriate  discourse,  from  Acts 
xiii.  3.  **  Separate  me  Barnabas  and  Saul,  for  the  work  whereunto  I  have  called 
them."  Questions  were  proposed  by  Dr.  Staughton,  relative  to  their  exercises  of 
mind  on  the  subject  of  a  Western  mission,  the  objects  which  were  before  them, 
and  their  resolution  to  continue  in  the  solemn  service  ;  to  which  answers  were  se- 
verally given,  highly  satisfactory  and  pleasing.  The  dedication  prayer  was  of- 
fered by  Dr.  Baldwin  ;  after  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mercer  delivered  to  the  young 
brethren  a  padietic  and  pungent  charge.  The  whole  of  the  services  were  cal- 
culated to  fill  the  mind  with  a  deep  sense  of  the  glory  of  the  Redeemer,  and  the 
awful  responsibilities  of  the  Christian  missionary,.as  well  as  to  excite  a  cheer- 
ful conviction  that  the  kinedom  of  Heaven  is  at  hand. 


I.YSTJil'CTIO.A'S 

From  the  Board  of  Missions,  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Peck  and  Rev.  Mr.  Welch,  about 
with  their  respective  families,  to  commence  a  Western  mission. 

BELOVED    BRETHREN, 

With  sentiments  of  affectionate  solicitude,  and  with  fervent  prayers  for  your 
success,  the  Board  contemplates  the  expedition  on  which  you  are  about  to  enter. 
They  are  fully  satisfied  that  Western  as  well  as  Eastern  regions  are  given  to 
the  Son  of  God  as  an  inheritance,  and  that  his  Gospel  will  triumph  amid  the 
settlers  on  the  Missisippi  and  the  sublimer  Missouri,  and  extend  to  all  the  red 
inhabitants  of  the  wilderness.     Should  the  Lord,  in  his  mercy,  crown  your  en- 


m 

savours  to  the  facilitating  of  this  delightful  event,  you  will  rejoice,  and  in  your 
joy  we  shall  he  the  favoured  sharers. 

Solemnly  dedicating  yourselves  as  you  have  done,  and  publicly  set  apart,  in 
the  presence  of  many  of  your  hreibren,  as  you  have  been,  to  this  important 
work,  we  hope  you  will  never  forget  that  the  vows  of  God  are  upon  you.  You 
hare  voluntarily  put  your  hands  1o  the  plough  ;  the  Western  desert  is  the  soil 
you  have  chosen  for  cultivation;  never,  never  look  back.  Were  vou  to  meet 
with  no  difficulties  to  obstruct ;  no  adversaries  to  misconstrue  ;  no  temptations 
to  embarrass  your  conscientious  zeal  for  the  glory  of  God  ;  the  common  experi- 
ence of  missionaries  would  not  be  yours.  Trials  must  be  expected  ;  but,  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord,  you  will  leap  over  walls  and  rusli  through  troops. 

Arrived,  as  is  the  case  with  both  of  you,  at  years  considerably  matured,  your 
judgment  and  experience  will  often  suggest  to  you,  when  residents  in  the  coun- 
try whither  you  are  going,  ideas  which  the  Board  may  not  immediately  possess. 
They  will  be  always  happy  to  hear  your  sentiments,  and  to  concur  in  every  plan 
which  they  shall  judge  calculated  to  advance  the  common  design.  They,  at 
present,  request  you  to  commence  your  missionary  career  at  St.  Louis,  or  in  its 
vicinity.  The  Board  feels  the  propriety  and  importance  of  your  endeavouring 
to  establish  a  school  or  schools  in  that  neighbourhood.  Should  you  adopt  the 
Lancasterian  plan  of  education,  your  usefulness  iti  this  attempt  would  probably 
be  the  more  enlarged.  They  wish  you  also  to  collect  such  scattered  brethren 
through  districts  of  the  country,  as  you  may  be  able,  and  to  encourage  and  assist 
their  formation  into  regular  churches  of  Christ.  It  is  not  improbable  that  from 
such  brethren  and  churches,  men  of  God  may  be  found  who  will  rejoice  to  be- 
come your  associates  in  the  work  before  you.  The  Board  is  particularly  desirous 
that  the  Fox,  the  Osage,  the  Kanses,  and  other  tribes  of  Indians,  should  engage 
your  peculiar  zeal.  In  proportion  as  the  Lord  shall  confirm  the  capacity  of  the 
Board,  and  as  brethren  shall  be  found  willing  to  become  adjutors,  they  will  be 
happy  in  enlarging  the  number  of  Western  labourers.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that 
efforts  for  the  salvation  of  the  aborigines  of  our  country,  have  hitherto  generally 
been  made  by  solitary  individuals,  and  relinquished  without  allowing  reasonable 
time  for  the  seed  to  germinate,  which  they  have  been  assisted  to  disperse.  May 
you  endure  to  the  end. 

Convince  the  Indians,  and  all  around  them,  that  your  designs  are  amicable; 
that  you  feel  for  them  as  fellow -immortals  ;  that  you  covet  not  their  lands,  but 
their  souls;  that  you  are  not  "  spies,"  but  "true  men;"  and  you  may  expect 
they  will  hear  with  patience,  and  treat  you  with  tenderness.  Captains  Lewis 
and  Clarke  frankly  observe,  that  with  the  exception  of  the  Sioux  tribe,  who  pro. 
bably  were  under  the  influence  of  some  jealous  apprehension,  or  recollected  pro- 
vocation, "the  treatment  that  we  received  from  the  Indians,  during  nearly  three 
years  that  we  were  with  them,  was  very  kind  and  hospitable."  Kay,  more,  they 
add  :  "  When  we  departed,  after  taking  leave,  they  svould  often  oiler  a  prayer, 
of  which  the  following  is  a  sample,  which  Was  put  up  for  us  by  a  Mandan — 
that  the  Great  Spirit,  would  favour  us  with  smooth  water  ;  with  a  clear  sky  by 
day,  atxl  a  bright  star-light  by  night ;  that  we  might  not  be  presented  with  the 
red  hatchet  of  war,  but  that  the  great  pipe  of  peace  might  ever  shine  upon  us, 
as  the  sun  shines  in  an  unclouded  day,  and  that  we  might  be  overshadowed  by 
the  smoke  thereof;  that  we  might  have  sound  sleep,  and  that  the  bird  of  peace 
might  whisper  ir  our  ears  pleasant  dreams"  The  Indian  character,  as  might 
be  expected  from  the  similitude  of  their  habits,  is  every  where  much  the  same. 
Accustomed  to  be  "wasted,"  and  "  to  pine  way"  before  the  avaricious  pursuits 
and  superior  arms  of  white  men,  it  would  imply  a  miracle  on  the  part  of  Pro- 
vidence, or  an  unnatural  insensibility  on  the  part  of  themselves,  if  they  were  not 
distrustful.  Let  them  be  satisfied  that  the  missionaries  of  the  Cross  arc  sincere, 
when  they  say,  "  We  des.re  not  yours,  but  you,"  and  good  may  be  antic i] 

Out  worthy  brethren  composing  the  associations,  churches,  and  n 
cieties  in  the  Western  states,   discover  an  amiable  anxiety  for  the  sjdvati.wi  of 
the  remote  settlers,  and  the  Indians.     Their  eyes  will  be  upon  you,  and  their 
prayers,  with  ours,  ascend  to  the  throne  of  mercy  for  your  su<  c    '  .      We  ear- 
nestly and  solemnly  exhort  you  to  cultivate  a  spirit  of  mutual  forbearan. 
Ioyc    Let  ajl  your  measures  be  pursued  in  Christian  conceit.    While  the  i 


176 

will  feel  itself  charged  to  minister  to  your  temporal  necessities,  it  is  believed, 
dear  brethren,  that  you  will  realize  the  conviction  that  it  will  become  you  to 
exercise  a  strict  frugality.  You  are  hereby  authorized,  as  circumstances  and 
prudence  may  suggest,  to  collect  what  you  can  from  the  friends  of  Zion,  for 
the  support  of  missions,  and  let  an  account  of  your  receipts  and  expenditures 
be  prepared  in  time  for  insertion  in  our  annual  Reports.  We  pray  that  you  may 
abound  in  personal  and  domestic  religion.  Your  example  will  &peak  with  a 
voice  as  distinct  and  instructive  as  your  public  ministrations.  To  the  Thessa- 
lonians,  who  were  "  turned  to  God  from  idols,  to  serve  the  living  and  true  God, 
and  to  wait  for  his  Son  from  heaven,"  Paul  could  say,  "  Ye  are  witnesses,  and 
God  also,  how  holily  and  justly  and  unblameably  we  behaved  ourselves  among 
you."  Permit  us  to  add,  in  the  language  of  the  same  apostle,  "  the  Lord  make 
you  to  increase  and  abound  in  love,  one  towards  another,  and  towards  all  men, 
even  as  we  do  towards  you  ;  to  the  end  he  may  establish  your  hearts  unblame- 
able,  in  holiness  before  God,  even  our  Father,  at  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  with  all  his  saints." 

The  times*,  dear  brethren,  in  which  we  live,  are  in  a  high  degree  interesting. 
The  prophecies  of  the  seers  of  heaven  are  rapidly  fulfilling.  The  prayers  of  the 
saints  are  receiving  answers  of  mercy.  The  groans  of  the  creation  are  ceasing, 
and  the  brightness  that  announces  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  God,  is  universally 
perceived.     Let  these  considerations  encourage  your  hearts. 

You  will  find  it  of  advantage  to  keep  regular  journals.  Exhibit  the  general 
aspects  of  the  country,  and  the  temper  of  the  people  you  may  visit.  Let  your 
communications  to  the  Board  be  frequent. 

We  are,  in  sincer.ty  and  affection,  your  brethren. 
Signed  by  order  of  the  Board, 

WM.  STAUGHTON,  Cor.  Sec'ry. 

To  the  Rev.  Mr   Ranaldson. 

Philadelphia,  11th  June,  1817- 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER, 

The  Convention  and  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  have  alike  sensibly  realized 
the  duty  of  attempting  the  circulation  of  the  Gospel  of  the  Son  of  God,  among 
the  ignorant  and  wretched  on  this  new  continent,  as  well  as  on  the  old.  The 
Board  has  received,  with  a  lively  interest,  the  intelligence,  that,  in  the  course  of 
Providence,  your  residence  is  removed  to  New  Orleans  They  are  happy  to  find 
that  your  heart  has  been  impressed  with  the  duty  of  engaging  in  missionary 
services,  and  have  unanimously  appointed  you  to  labour  in  the  city  and  vicinity 
where  you  reside.  They  are  amply  satisfied  with  your  qualifications  for 
the  work,  and  have  confidence  in  your  piety,  zeal,  and  fidelity,  while  engaged 
in  its  discharge. 

The  city  and  territory  of  New  Orleans,  the  Western  parts  of  the  Missisippi 
Territory,  and  the  vast  and  growing  regions  of  Louisiana,  they  consider  as  very 
important  missionary  ground.  Efforts  in  this  latter  country,  may  make  way 
for  the  introduction  of  the  Word  of  Life  among  the  plains  and  mountains 
of  New  Mexico,  and  facilitate  its  ingress  into  the  countries  of  South 
America.  With  relation  to  the  particular  points  where,  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  you  shall  commence  and  pursue  your  labours,  the  Board  wishes 
not  to  dictate.  You  will  be  able,  dwelling  in  the  country,  to  judge  for  your- 
self, and  will  find,  no  doubt,  affectionate  advisers  in  the  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson  and 
other  pious  friends  that  are  near  you.  The  general  impression  of  the  <3oard  is, 
that  for  the  current  year  von  mav  labour  with  advantage  in  the  city  of  New  Or- 
leans, and  its  neighbourhood.  Were  it  practicable,  they  woujd  wish  you  to  visit 
such  Indian  settlements  as  shall  not  lie  found  too  remote,  and  to  inquire,  and 
ascertain  as  accurately  as  you  can,  what  prospects  offer  for  the  enlargement  of 
the  mission,  and  what  for  the  establishment  of  schools,  among  the  settlers  and 
natives.  Our  brethren  in  India  are  directing  their  attention  to  schools  with 
growing  ardour.  The  prophecy,  "  when  the  Lord  shall  build  up  Zion,  he  shall 
appear  in  his  glory"' — shall  be  written  for  the  generations  to  come. 

The  Bt;ard   will  be  gratified  by  your  keeping  and  forwarding  journals  of 


m 

your  labours.  By  such  means  they  and  you  will  gather  up  valuable  fragments, 
which  might  otherwise  be  lost.  Your  occasional  communications  by  mail,  when 
any  thing  of  importance  occurs,  will  be  always  acceptable.  You  will  be  able 
to  throw  light  on  the  manners  of  the  people,  the  degree  to  which  missionaries 
may  hereafter  contribute  to  their  own  support,  the  nature  and  extent  of  educa- 
tional and  local  prejudices,  and  the  way  in  which,  in  the  strength  of  the  Lord, 
they  may  be  most  advantageously  surmounted.  Information  on  these  and  simi- 
lar subjects  will  ever  be  welcome  to  the  Board. 

The  work,  my  dear  brother,  on  which  you  are  entering,  is  laborious  and  re- 
sponsible, but  let  not  your  heart  be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be  dismayed.  The 
prayers  of  thousands  "will  rise  to  the  throne  for  your  support  and  success. 
The  Redeemer  vou  serve  "'shall  be  like  the  morning  when  the  sun  riseth,  oven 
a  morning  without  clouds,"  or,  like  the  face  of  nature  at  the  very  moment  I  am 
writing  to  you,  "  as  the  tender  grass  springeth  out  of  the  earth  by  clear  shining 
after  rain  "  Facts  and  prophecies  are  two  of  the  main  props  of  missionary  zeal. 
To  these,  reference  is  had  in  answer  to  Messiah's  prayer,  "  Father,  glorify  thy 
name."  The  instant  voice,  supposed  by  the  auditors  to  be  an  angel  or  thunder, 
replies,  "  I  have  both  glorified  it,  and  I -will  glorify  it  again."  Who  can  tell  but 
your  ministrations  in  the  south-western  departments  of  cur  country  may  be  rank- 
ed with  the  providences  that  shall  precede  among  them,  a  day  of  grace  and  sal- 
vation ? 

Wishing  you  much  of  the  presence  and  benediction  of  the  Lord  of  the  harvest, 
lam  your  brother  and  friend, 

Wm.  STAUGHTON,  Cor.  Sec. 


BIBLE  INSTITUTIONS. 

c<  By  the  scriptures  of  the  prophets,  according  to  the  commandment  of  the 
everlasting  God,"  the  mystery  of  grace  is  about  "to  be  made  known  to  aH  na- 
tions for  the  obedience  of  faith."  New  and  heart-reviving  intelligence  on  this 
subject  is  constantly  arriving.  The  following  are  a  few,  among  a  thousand 
other  interesting  articles,  which  every  Christian  must  peruse  with  grateful  ex- 
ultation. 

From  a  Speech  of  C.  S,  Dudley,  Esq.  at  a  late  meeting  of  the  Southampton  Bible 
Society,  England. 
"  Great  indeed  has  been  the  degree  of  success  with  which  it  has  pleased  Di- 
vine Providence  to  bless  the  hbours  of  the  Bible  Society  ;  much  has  been  ac- 
complished ;  but  let  us  never  forget,  that  although  it  is  much  in  comparison 
with  what  had  been  previously  done,  yet  it  is  little  in  comparison  with  what  re- 
mains to  be  accomplished  I  have  indeed  been  asked,  since  my  arrival  within  these 
walls,  whether,  as  so  much  had  been  done,  the  Society  might  now  relax  in  their 
exertions  ?  I  will  not  insult  you  by  asking  whether,  you  are  tired  of  your  work  ? 
for  I  well  know  it  is,  and  will  long  continue  to  be,  a  source  of  pleasure  and  de- 
light. But  I  will  adopt,  in  reference  to  the  number  of  Bibles  distributed,  the 
language  addressed  *.o  the  Saviour  of  the  world,  and  ask, — "  What  are  these 
among  so  many  ?"  I  appeal  to  your  christian  charity  and  benevolent  sympathy, 
on  the  behalf  of  two  millions  of  immortal  beings  in  the  sister  kingdom  of  Ire- 
land, who  are  still  destitute  of  this  guide  to  heaven  and  happiness.  I  will  re- 
mind you,  that  this  globe  contains,  on  a  moderate  calculation,  one  thousand  mil- 
lions of  souls,  of  which  only  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  millions  profess  the 
Christian  faith,  and  of  these  not  one-sixth  arc  supplied  with  the  holy  scriptures. 
I  entreat  you  to  recollect,  that  the  single  and  simple  object  of  the  Bible  Society 
is  to  place  the  Bible  in  the  hands  of  every  known  being  upori  earth;  and  I  Will 
then  ask  you  whether  you  can  relax  in  your  exertions  to  promote  the  success  of 
a  c  uise,  which  will  yet  fee  in  its  infancy,  when  the  head  of  the  youngest  child  in 
this  numerous  assembly  shall  be  white  wil  h  age.  Without  following  the  lumin- 
ous track  which  your  report  has  pursued,  I  shall  merely  select  from  the  foreign 
tree  one  or  two  blossoms,  as  specimens  of  that  fruit  which  may  be  anticipated 
from  the  seed  which  it  is  your  happy  privilege  to  scatter.     I  shall  gather  theee 


178 

5>lossoms  from  opposite  branches.  One  of  the  latest  accounts  from  Labrador, 
men'  oi  s  a  pleasing  fact,  alike  illustrative  of  the  benefits  of  education  and  the 
Bibii. — A  young  Esquimaux  in  one  of  the  schools,  reading  the  Gospel  of  St. 
Mai  lieu ,  burst  into  a  fl  jod  of  tears  ;  his  teacher  asking  lain  what  had  so  afflict- 
ed dim  the  youth  replied,  "  Ah,  I  now  see  1  shall  never  get  to  I  leaven  !  look 
here,  the  book  of  God  says,  blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart ;  now  1  know  that  my 
hi  i  ,s  iu>t  pure.'"  "Look  here,"  says  his  teacher,  pointing  out  the  passage, 
— "  Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit,  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  Heaven  !"  "  Now, 
tluer.,"  said  the  boy,  "  I  am  happy;  I  see  1  may  depend  on  the  Saviour.  I  wish 
no  longer  to  doubt  his  goodness."  Having  thus  seen  that  faith  is  not  chilled 
amid  the  frozen  wilds  of  Labrador,  we  shall  find  it  may  not  be  parched  even 
at  the  Line.  A  recent  letter  from  Java  states,  that  the  writer  had  called  on  an 
intellige.it  and  serious  Chinese  merchant,  a  few  weeks  previously  ;  not  finding 
him  in  the  house,  he  proceeded  into  the  garden,  and  beheld  him  in  an  alcove, 
beating  to  pieces  with  a  hammer  that  idol  he  had  recently  Worshipped  as  a  god. 
Op  asking  hirn  what  he  was  about,  the  awakened  Asiatic  exclaimed, — "I  am 
destroying  that  idol  which  I  falsely  believed  in,  lest  it  may  again  tempt  me  to 
sin;  if  I  threw  it  away,  somebody  might  fall  down  before  it  as  1  have  done.  I 
will  worship  the  only  true  God,  who  dwelleth  in  Heaven.  I  know  that  I  dare 
not  return  to  my  own  country,  but  God  can  see  and  biess  me  as  well  at  Java  as 
in  China." 

Extract  from  an  Address  at  the  formation  of  a  Methodist  Mission 
Society,  by  Dr.  Adam  Clark. 

"  The  translating  of  the  Scriptures  into  the  different  languages  of  Asia, 
has  been  carried  :o  a\\  unprecedented  extent,  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Carey,  Marsh- 
man.  «nd  Ward,  Baptist  missionaries  at  Serampore  ;  men  whose  names  should 
not  be  mentioned  without  honour — who  have  done,  and  are  doing,  more  for  the 
propagation  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  by  their  various  translations,  than  has  been 
done,  by  any  class  of  men,  or  in  ail}-  century  since  the  foundation  of  Christianity  . 
They  are  not  only  missionaries,  and  successful  missionaries  themselves,  but 
by  then-  translations  into  different  languages,  of  which  tin  y  have  twenty-one, 
(now  twenty  seven)  either  in  hand,  in  the  press,  or  in  circulation  ;  they  are  suc- 
cessful pioneers,  to  open  the  way  of  missionaries  in  general,  to  all  the  nations 
of  India  and  China.  Not  only  Dr.  Marshman's  translation  of  the  whole  Bible 
into  Chinese,  which  1  understand  is  nearly  completed  ;  but  his  extraordinary  in- 
vention of  moveable  metal  types  for  that  language,  will,  with  comparatively  little 
cost  and  trouble,  multiply  copies  of  the  Sacred  Writings  into  tens  of  thousands, 
to  be  dispersed  in  that  vast  empire." 

In  Burmah,  the  press  lias  already,  by  the  labours  of  brethren  Judson  and  Hough, 
commenced  its  useful  career,  having  specially  in  view  the  object  of  giving  the 
BIBLE  to  that  nation,  and  the  surrounding  nations,  in  their  own  language. 
Religious  Tracts  Will  also  be  printed  there.  The  following  passage  is  from 
the  conclusion  of  the  Tract,  from  which  the  extract,  with  an  engraving  of  the 
Burman,  fronting  the  title  page  of  this  Report,  is  taken  : — 

*'  The  teacher  who  composed  this  writing,  seeing  the  great  evil  which  is 
coming  on  the  Burmans,  left  his  own  country  from  oompassio  i  ;  and  from  an 
immense  distance,  has  arrived,  by  ship,  to  tins,  the  country  of  Barmah.  He 
desires  neither  fame  nor  riclies.  Offerings  and  gilts  he  seeks  not.  The  disciples 
of  Christ,  in  his  own  country,  moved  with  compassion  tor  the  Burmans,  make 
offerings  sufficient  for  his  use.  He  has  no  other  motive  but  this  :  15  ing  a  dis- 
ciple of  Christ,  and,  therefore,  seeking  the  good  of  others,  -  his  >wn  is 
come,  and  is  labouring,  that  the  Burmans  may  be  saved  from  the  dreadful  pun- 
ishment of  hell,  and  may  enjoy  the  happiness  of  heaven." 

Mx  tract  of  a  letter  from  Airs.  Judson,  dated  Rangoon,  June  14,  1816. 

"  I  have  just  been  reading  over  your  kind,  affectionate  letter,  for  which  I 
sincerely  thank  you.  1  should  have  answered  it  before,  but  multiplicity  of  bu- 
siness prevented.     You  ask,  my  dear  Mrs.  Lovett,  "  Is  not  the  mission  attended 


179 

with  more  difficulties  and  dangers  than  you  anticipated  ?"  I  answer,  perhaps 
they  are  of  a  different  kind  from  vvhai  I  formerly  imagined.  As  it  respects  real 
personal  suffering,  I  nave  never  realized  more  than  1  anticipated ;  or  rather,  I 
have  felt  a  greater  support  under  trials  than  I  expected.  But  the  almost  insur- 
mountable difficulty  of  acquiring  a  foreign  language,  and  of  communicating  re- 
ligious knowledge  to  the  daik  mind  of  a  heathen,  cannot  be  known  by  any  but 
those  who  make  the  trial.  In  a  short  time  one  can  get  enough  of  a  language 
for  common  use.  But  to  think,  to  reason,  and  to  get  hold  of  the  little  connex- 
ions and  idiom  of  a  language  entirely  different  from  one's  native  tongue,  is  quite 
another  thing.  Then,  after  the  language  is  in  a  tolerable  degree  acquired,  new- 
terms  must  be  invented  to  give  them  right  ideas  of  a  being  of  whom  they  are 
entirely  ignorant.  But  the  difficulties  do  not  stop  here.  The  mind,  in  its  native 
state,  is  slow  to  receive  new  ideas.  Very  little  can  be  received  at  a  time,  and 
that  little  constantly  repeated,  or  it  is  soon  obliterated.  But  even  when  truth  is 
received  and  retained,  if  it  is  leceived  with  the  notion  that  sell  has  no  conctrn  in 
it,  it  has  no  effect.  O  how  utterly  impossible  it  is  that  these  Burmans  can  be 
converted  by  any  other  than  the  power  of  God  !  This  is  our  onl)  hope  ;  this 
alone  keeps  us  from  discouragement  and  despair,  and  will  continue  to  encourage 
us,  so  long  as  we  have  such  examples  of  distinguishing  power  and  grace  beibre 
us  as  the  conversion  of  the  Otaheitans.  The  conversion  of  a  nation  wholly  idol- 
atrous, is  not  the  work  of  a  day  or  year.  Though  it  is  infinitely  easy  for  God  to 
effect  it  even  in  so  short  a  time,  yet  he  has  not  seen  fit  thus  to  operate ;  nor 
have  we  any  reason  to  hope  that  he  will  vary  so  far  from  his  usual  method  of 
operation.  The  Scriptuies  must  be  translated,  Tracts  circulated,  Schools  es- 
tablished, and  a  spirit  of  inquiry  excited,  before  we  can  hope  to  see  any  essen- 
tial alterations.  The  natives  must  have  time  to  examine  the  effects  of  a  new  re- 
ligion, by  observing  the  conduct  of  the  missionaries^  before  they  will  be  willing 
to  renounce  their  oid.  Alas,  what  can  one  single  missionary  do  in  a  country 
where  thousands  are  needed!  And  yet,  should  a  host  of  missionaries  arrive,  it 
might  at  once  destroy  this  little  beginning,  by  exciting  the  suspicions  of  the  na- 
tives, naturally  jealous,  and  occasion  a  total  banishment  of  every  missionary. 
Thus  we  are  compelled  to  see  the  miseries  of  this  people,  gioping  in  thick  dark- 
ness, without  being  able  to  relieve  them  ;  and  knowing  also  it  must  be  some  time 
beibre  any  thing  can  be  effected.  But,  my  dear  Mrs.  Lovett,  we  are  not  idle; 
we  feel  we  have  but  one  object  on  earth,  and  we  make  every  tiling  bend  to  this. 
Mr.  Judson  has  completed  a  tract,  (a  summary  of  the  Christian  religion,)  and  a 
grammar  in  the  Burman  language,  which  are  now  ready  for  printing.  He  has 
also  got  .some  way  in  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures. 

"  I  must  now  finish  this  long  letter,  requesting  yduwul  follow  iny  example  in 
its  length.     Remember  us  affectionately  to  all  our  friends.     That  we  may  meet 
in  heaven  and  spend  an  etermt\  together,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of 
Your  affectionate, 

NANCY  JUDSON." 

DOMESTIC  MISSIONS. 

These  are  still  pursuing  and  multiplying  their  useful  efforts  from  North 
to  South,  and  in  the  West.  Societies  are  still  springing  up,  whose  object  is  to 
send  missionaries  ir.to  destitute  neighbourhoods.  The  propriety  and  utility  of 
these  exertions  experience  has  abundantly  proved.  Nor  has  a  merciful  God  re- 
fused Ins  blessing  to  labours  of  this  description.  Sometimes  is  the  missionary 
pel  mitted  to  realize,  not  onl)  the  satisfaction  resulting  from  the  generally  bene- 
ficial tendency  of  his  labours,  but  the  unspeakable  joy  of  a  revival  of  the  work 
of  the  Lord  under  his  ministrations. 

It  would  be  pleasing  and  interesting  to  give  a  particular  detail  of  the  domes- 
tic missionary  operations  through  all  the  United  States;  and  of  the  operations 
of  other  missionary  bodies,  and  of  those  of  other  countries:  this,  however,  our 
limits  do  not  permit  us  to  introduce. 

By  a  letter  from  the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Connecticut  Auxilliary 
Mission  Society,  it  is  gratifying  to  learn,  that  two  donations  of  100  dollars  each 


180 

have  been  made  to  that  society  :  one  from  the  Rev.  John  Allien  of  Ashfieid, 
Mass. ;  the  other  from  Deacon  Ezra  Allen,  Chilmark,  Martha's  Vineyard  ; — be- 
sides c  mtributions  from  several  Female  Societies. 

In  this  place,  it  may  be  proper  to  insert  the  names  of  two  female  societies 
that  ought  to  have  been  inserted  with  the  others,  viz  :  the  Boiskili  Female  Mite 
Society,  New-York;  and  the  Mile  Society  in  West  Springfield,  Mass  These 
make  the  list  of  female  societies  112.  No  doubt  there  are  many  more  whose 
names  have  not  yet  been  obtained. 

It  may  be  proper  also  to  remark  here,  that  many  of  the  associations  have  re- 
commended to  the  churches  to  make  annual  contributions  for  missionary  pur- 
poses ;  many  of  them  have  taken  up  public  collections  at  their  annual  meetings, 
and  forwarded  the  same  to  the  general  fund,  either  directly,  or  through  the 
medium  of  some  of  the  mission  societies  :  and  several  of  them  have  adopted  it 
as  a  settled  rule,  to  take  up  i  public  collection  at  their  annual  meetings  of  asso- 
ciation. Thus  do  ihey  testily  their  love  for  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  their  benevo- 
lent desires  tor  the  salvation  of  men. 


STATE  OF  RELIGION. 

In  the  Northern  parts  of  our  country,  that  is,  in  various  places  in  New  Eng- 
land, :eid  in  the  states  ot  New-York  and  New-Jersey,  extensive  revivals  of  re- 
ligion have  been  going  on  the  year  past.  So,  too,  in  some  instances,  in  the 
Middle,  S  >uthern,  and  Western  states,  particularly  in  Kentucky,  the  Lord  has 
mercifully  shed  abroad  the  influences  of  his  holy  Spirit,  and  graciously  revived 
his  work.  His  arm  it  not  shortened  that  il  cannot  save,  no;'  his  ear  heavy  that  it 
cannot  hear!  More  than  ten  thousand  baptised  during  the  year  on  a  profession 
of  repentance  and  faith,  besides  those,  who,  in  other  connexions,  have  experi- 
enced a  gracious  renovation  of  heart,  cannot  fail  to  inspire  emotions  of  thankful- 
ness to  the  Father  of  mercies,  for  these  displays  of  the  triumphs  of  the  Cross, 
and  of  the  riches  and  efficacy  of  victorious  grace. 


AFRICAN  MISSION. 

In  Api  il  last,  a  15  iptist  African  Society  was  formed  in  Richmond,  Va.  with  a 
special  view  of  commencing  a  course  of  contribution  winch,  should  the  Lord 
of  his  infinite  goodness  succeed,  may  prove  the  means  of  spreading  through 
"the  land  of  Ham,"  the  knowledge  of  the  Redeemer.  Among  the  mysteriotts 
movements  of  Divine  Providence,  by  which  good  is  educed  from  evil,  it  will 
s  be  found,  that  one  des  gn  intended  to  be  accomplished  by  permitting 
din?,  Africans  to  be  brought  slaves  to  our  shores  is,  that  they  may  hero 
learn  the  way  of  salvatirfn,  and  return  to  Africa  bearing  the  glorious  tidings.  It 
is  earnestly  hoped  by  the  Convention,  that  the  example  set  in  Richmond,  and 
which  has. already  been  copted.by  the  first  African  Baptist  Church  in  Philadel- 
phia, will  excite  the  people  cf  colour,  throughout  the  whole  Union,  to  mato  on 
vigorous  and  continued  effort.  Funds  for  the  African  mission,  when  collected, 
will  be  carefully  reserved  foe  the  single  purpose.  The  measure,  so  desirable 
in  itself,  so  eas  y  of  accomplishment,  and  so  consonant  with  the  spirit  of  missions 
which  the  Lord  has  sent  forth,  v/ill  surely  engage  the  attention  of  thousands. 

A  trie's  regenerated  sons 

Shall  shout  to  Asia's  rapturous  song; 
Europe  resound  her  Saviour's  fame, 

And  Western  climes  the  note  prolong. 


The  Board  is  gratefully  indebted  to  their  brethren,  Joseph  Barnhurst  for  the 
plate,  and  Bartholomew  T.  Vfdch  for  the  engraving,  at  the. commencement  ot 
this  Report. 


